UNIVERSITY CENTER -- The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team hosted Northwood University on Wednesday (Apr. 12) afternoon in a league doubleheader at the SVSU Baseball Complex. The Cardinals dropped a narrow 6-4 decision in an extended game that went 13 innings in the opener. SVSU then opened the second game with seven runs in the bottom of the first inning. The nightcap was called heading into the bottom of the third due to darkness with the Cards leading 7-0.
Game One
The Timberwolves got out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning, using an RBI groundout and a wild pitch.
SVSU responded in the home half of the 4th to take the lead, using a three-run shot from Jordan Swiss that scored Chad Carson and Brendan Harrison to make the score 3-2.
Adam Fitzgibbon made the lead 4-2 for SV, as he ripped an RBI double to right center that pushed Carson across once again.
Northwood used a one out, bases-loaded double to knot the score at 4-4 in the top of the 7th. The first two runs scored, but SVSU stopped a third from scoring with a nice relay from Fitzgibbon in center to Swiss at short. Swiss then fired a throw from shallow center field to catcher Connor Sonnier, who tagged-out the Northwood runner by 10 feet.
With the Cardinals unable to get on the board in the bottom of the 7th, the game went to extra-innings.
Saginaw Valley loaded the bases in the home half of the 8th, but with one out Northwood was able to get a pair of groundouts to send the game to the 9th frame.
Northwood came through with a pair of runs in the top of the 13th, grabbing a 6-4 edge.
The Cards got a couple of baserunners in the bottom half, but were unable to push any more runs across and would fall by the 6-4 final score.
Inside the Boxscore
- Carson had a big opener at the plate, going 4-6 with three doubles and two runs scored.
- Swiss had the three-run shot that gave SV a 3-2 lead in the 4th inning.
- Fitzgibbon and Adam Turner each added two hits, with Fitzgibbon notching an RBI.
On the Mound
- Jason Clark was solid in his second collegiate start. He worked 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout. He walked four batters.
- Jake Tarbell tossed 2.1 innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits, walking five and striking-out one batter.
- Alex Millhisler (1-2) took the loss despite a great effort in relief. He worked the final 6.1 innings, scattering nine hits and allowing two runs. He struck-out five Northwood batters.
Game Two
With the extended play in game one, the second game got a late start and got through 2 1/2 innings.
The Cardinals went for seven runs in the bottom of the first and currently lead 7-0 in the halted contest. SVSU was aided by hit batters and walks early on, with Fitzgibbon and Turner walking-in runs for the home team. Swiss then had a two-RBI double, as did Colton Brooks. Mason Schwellenbach rounded-out the first inning scoring with an RBI single.
The teams will resume and finish the nightcap at some point next week.
Up Next...
SVSU travels to Hillsdale College for league doubleheaders Friday and Saturday. Friday's games are set to begin at 2:00 p.m., while Saturdays twinbill will start at 1:00 p.m.
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