CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team dropped a heart-breaking 7-6 decision in the ninth to Walsh University on day one of the season opening 2013 Clearwater Invitational.
Saginaw Valley jumped on the scoreboard in the second inning after a Walsh error kept the inning alive scoring junior Ryan Hotmer (Walbridge, Ohio / Lake). Sophomore shortstop Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) followed with a two-out single up the middle to give SVSU the 2-0 edge.
The Cavaliers struck back in the bottom half with three runs as the result of a Cardinal infield error.
SVSU regained a 4-3 lead in the fourth inning thanks to a Dylin Eschenburg (Shelby Township, Mich. / Eisenhower) two-out RBI double down the left field line to plate Niko Gonzalez (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek) who reached on an error.
Another SVSU infield error would cost the Cardinals in the bottom of the fifth to give Walsh the 5-4 edge.
In the top of the eighth, Kyle Kaufmann (Saginaw, Mich. / Valley Lutheran) laced a pinch-hit single to left center to knot the game at 5-5 scoring Brad Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) who tripled with two outs to keep SVSU at the plate.
Saginaw Valley went ahead 6-5 in the top half of the ninth when Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) scored from third on a passed ball which the catcher could not handle cleanly.
However, SVSU could not hold the lead after a throwing error by the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Walsh momentum and the 7-6 walk-off victory.
Starting pitcher Scott Sency (Medina, Ohio) threw five solid innings recording eight strikeouts, while giving up one earned run. Reliever Justin Drzewicki (Bay City, Mich. / Bay City Central) came on in the sixth inning to throw three innings of one hit baseball with five strikeouts.
Andrew Tidwell (Canton, Mich.) picked up the loss as he could not close out the contest in the ninth inning.
Overall, the SVSU pitching staff struck out 14 batters today, the most since Apr. 8, 2009 against Alma College (16).
The Cardinals will be back in action tomorrow (March 4) at 10 a.m. for a double-header against Urbana University at Frank Tack South Field.