CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team could not hold a narrow lead midway through the contest and ended up dropping 11-8 to Cedarville University on day six of the season opening 2013 Clearwater Invitational.
Senior Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich.) opened the scoring for the Cardinals in the second inning with a solo home run to left center field to tie up the game at 1-1. The blast was the first of the year for SVSU and the second of LaFave's career.
Cedarville answered right back in the top of the third with five runs on five hits to take a 6-1 lead.
The Saginaw Valley offense remained patient in their next at-bat bringing home two runs on back-to-back bases loaded walks by Niko Gonzalez (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek) and Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.). Junior Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) scored a third and final run of the frame on an RBI groundout from Ryan Hotmer (Walbridge, Ohio / Lake) to trail 6-4 after three innings.
SVSU inched even closer in the fourth inning as they added a run off the bat of Michael Craig who pushed Dylin Eschenburg (Shelby Township, Mich. / Eisenhower) acrossed home to trail by one, 6-5.
After the Yellow Jackets scored another run, sophomore shortstop Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) blasted a 1-1 pitch deep over the left field fence for a three-run home run giving SVSU their first lead of the contest (8-7) after five innings of action. The long ball was the second career shot for Perkovich.
However, Cedarville went on to post runs in the final three innings and staved off a Cardinal comeback effort for the 11-8 nine inning decision.
Craig and Eschenburg each posted two hits in the contest, while LaFave and Eschenburg both score twice.
Sophomore starting pitcher Scott Sency (Medina, Ohio) picked up a no-decision on the mound for SVSU while recording five strikeouts in three innings of work as he gave up six earned runs.
Justin Drzewicki (Bay City, Mich. / Central) came on in relief to throw four innings allowing just one earned run on six hits along with three strikeouts.
Saginaw Valley will return to action tomorrow (March 9) in their final day of games in Clearwater with a pair of nine inning contests against GLIAC opponents Walsh (9:30 a.m. - Frank Tack South) and Tiffin (1:30 p.m. - Jack Russell Stadium).