FINDLAY, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team traveled south to Findlay, Ohio for a mid-week three game series with the Oilers of the University of Findlay. Despite coming back from early deficits, the Cardinals weren't able to pull ahead in the end, falling twice in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader.
Game One
The Oilers jumped out front quickly in the game, scoring a pair in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead.
SVSU would respond quickly however, scoring four runs in the top of the second to take a two run lead. A Richard Guglielmi double scored Tyler Schwanz (hit) and Demetrius Dunlap (walk) for the first two runs. After a Michael Craig single and Connor Foley groundout, the Cards were left with runners at second and third with just one out.
Leadoff hitter Dylin Eschenburg then dug-in and ripped a single to center field, scoring Guglielmi and Craig to plate runs three and four.
Findlay would score four in the bottom of the third and a trio of runs in its half of the fourth inning, reclaiming the lead at 9-4.
The Cards plated their fifth run in the next half, as Luke Valutis had an RBI single to score Chris Perkovich.
After the Oilers scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 10-5, Saginaw Valley made a late game push in the top of the sixth.
Eschenburg had another RBI single with no outs, scoring Foley and Craig to cut the deficit to three runs at 10-7. Eschenburg would later come around to score on a single by Brad Schalk and the score stood at 10-8 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
After the Oilers went scoreless in the bottom of six, they would set SV down in order in its last at-bat, closing-out for the two run victory.
Four Cardinals had multiple hits in the opener, as Eschenburg, Schalk, Guglielmi and Craig all had a pair of knocks. Eschenburg had three RBIs and Guglielmi and Craig each added two.
Pete Baumgartner suffered his first loss on the season, with his record now standing at 2-1 overall in 2014.
Game Two
The Cardinals found themselves in a big hole to start the nightcap, as Findlay chased SVSU starter David Freed from the game early after 1/3 of an inning pitched after seven runs on seven hits.
The home team added a single run in the bottom half of the third inning to make the score 8-0.
It wasn't until the top of the fifth inning when Saginaw Valley struck with its comeback bid.
After a Craig walk and Perkovich single, Valutis knocked a single through the left side to score Craig. After a flyout, Schalk had an RBI single to score Perkovich and make the score 8-2. With runners on first and second and one out, it would bring Kyle Kaufmann to the plate. He would take the pitcher deep over the right field fence for a three-run home run to make the score 8-5. It was Kaufmann's first-career homer and the first of the 2014 season for the Cardinals.
After Findlay got out of the inning, neither team was able to capitalize on any scoring opportunities for the remainder of the contest and UF would complete the sweep on the day.
Jeff Schalk provided SVSU with a solid relief effort, as he toed the rubber for the remainder of the game for SV, throwing 5 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits and one run.
Valutis had a pair of hits in game two with an RBI while Kaufmann had the three RBIs on the one big swing in the fifth. Jason Hanson reached base twice in the game via the walk.
The Cardinals fall to 4-14 overall on the year with a 1-7 mark in GLIAC play. The Oilers improve to 8-12 overall and an even 5-5 in league contests.
The two teams will finish their mid-week series Wednesday with a single, nine inning game that begins at 1:00 pm at Fifth Third Field in Findlay.