UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team was swept by Grand Valley today (Apr. 7), 9-6 and 6-4 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest. With the loss the Cardinals fall to 12-13 overall on the season and 9-5 in the GLIAC, while the Lakers improve to 18-10 overall on the season and 8-6 in the GLIAC.
Game 1
Grand Valley took the early 1-0 lead over the Cardinals in the top of the first inning when they scored one run on two hits.
The Cardinals responded to the run in bottom of the third inning when junior Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) singled down the left field line, allowing Brandon Schwanz (Novi, Mich./Henry Ford CC) to score from third.
The tied game would not last long as the Lakers had a four run inning with five hits and one SVSU error, giving them the 5-1 advantage in the top of the fourth inning.
Saginaw Valley cut the Grand Valley lead to three in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore Kyle Parks (Flushing, Mich.) dug in with bases loaded and laced a single through the left side of the field, bringing in Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich./Olney Central College).
The Lakers tacked on two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 7-1. Grand Valley added their final two runs of the contest in the top of the seventh inning, scoring on three Cardinal errors.
Saginaw Valley started a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning when freshman Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) led off the inning with a single to right field and stole second base. Perkovich came around to score the first run of the inning for the Cardinals on a Joe Galanty (Canton, Mich.) single to right center. Saginaw Valley added three more runs when Jason Kandal (Standish, Mich./Standish-Sterling Central HS) doubled down the left field line. The Cardinals were unable to keep the rally alive, falling to the Lakers 9-6.
Starting pitching Steven Janes (Chesterton, Ind.) suffered the loss hurling 3.2 innings, while Kandal led the way for the Cardinals going one-for-two at the plate with three runs batted in and LaFave was two-for-two at the plate.
Game 2
Grand Valley took the lead first in game two over SVSU when they scored two runs on a Giancarlo Brugnoni homerun over the left field fence.
The Lakers added their third run of the contest in the top of the third inning, allowing them to take the 3-0 lead over Saginaw Valley.
Saginaw Valley got their bats going in the bottom of the third inning when Cam Wiechmann (Birch Run, Mich./Muskegon CC) ripped a single to left field, scoring Perkovich and advancing Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich./Concordia University) to third. Hunt came around to score for the Cardinals when O'Boyle grounded into a double play, bringing SVSU within one of Grand Valley.
The Lakers extended their lead to four in the top of the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles.
Saginaw Valley tried to battle back in the bottom of the sixth inning when Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) drove a single to center field that brought in two Cardinal runs, but it would not be enough as they would fall 6-4.
Senior pitcher Chase Coutler (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) suffered his first loss of the season pitching six innings with six strikeouts, while Orr led the way offensively going two-for-three and driving in two runs.
Saginaw Valley will be back in action on Tuesday (Apr. 10) when they travel to Alma College. The single game is scheduled for 3:00 PM.