YPSILANTI, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball dropped a 6-5 decision to Lake Erie College today (May 9) in Game No. 4 of the 2013 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament. The double-elimination tournament is being held at Oestrike Stadium on the campus of Eastern Michigan University.
In the top of the first, the Storm came out and recorded two runs on three hits for the early lead. Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich. / Bullock Creek) prevented Lake Erie from plating more runs after a perfect throw from right field to home ended the inning.
Lake Erie put together a series of three consecutive hits in the third inning to push their lead to 3-0.
Saginaw Valley threatened in the bottom of the fifth with bases loaded and only one man out. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, a line out to the shortstop enabled the Storm to turn a 6-4 double play and end the SVSU threat.
The Storm went on to post a three-spot in the eighth inning to extend the SVSU deficit to 6-0.
The SVSU bats rallied in the bottom of the eighth with a sacrifice fly from Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) to score Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) before Ryan Hotmer (Walbridge, Ohio / Lake) recorded a seeing eye single to plate Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich.)
Sophomore Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) then singled on a 2-2 pitch to right center to narrow the gap as Kyle O'Boyle came around to score as the Cardinals trailed 6-3 after eight.
The ninth inning featured a wild comeback effort from the Cardinals that started with back-to-back singles followed by a throwing error that scored Dylin Eschenburg (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica Eisenhower) to bring SVSU within two, 6-4.
The hearts of SVSU baseball fans in attendance were in their throats when Chet LaFave smashed a towering fly ball to left center for a sacrifice fly. The big fly, which appeared at first glance to be a potential home run, scored Craig on the play and brought the Cardinals within one.
However, an unfortunate base-running error on the next play ended the SVSU comeback attempt and ultimately their season with a 6-5 elimination game loss to Lake Erie.
Starting pitcher Mike Schaaf (Saginaw, Mich. / Arthur Hill) recorded a career-high in strikeouts with eight on the day throwing eight innings of work (136 pitches - 92 strikes).
The SVSU offense was led by Dylin Eschenburg and Chris Perkovich who each recorded three hits with Michael Craig notching a pair of hits and two runs scored. The Cardinals recorded three straight double-digit hit efforts for the first time this year and their 14th double-digit hit game of the year with a 12-hit showing today.
The 2013 Saginaw Valley State University baseball team finishes their season with a 16-24 overall record.