ALLENDALE -- The SVSU Cardinal baseball team began its final weekend of conference play with the start of a four-game series against Grand Valley State on Friday (May 5). Saginaw Valley dropped the first game of the doubleheader, 5-1, and then earned the split with the Lakers after locking down a 7-6 victory in the nightcap.
Game One
A one-out walk from Mason Schwellenbach set up the game's first run, as Chad Carson drove him home on an RBI double to left center field. The Cardinals took the first lead of the contest, 1-0.
The one-run Cardinal lead lasted all the way into the second inning, when Grand Valley got things going offensively. GVSU tied the game up at 1-1 after a passed ball scored a run from third base. The Lakers then jumped ahead for the first time with a pair of RBI base hits to go ahead by two.
Grand Valley was retired in order the next two innings but would add on to its lead in the fifth inning. The Lakers scored a run in the bottom frame with an RBI triple, plating the runner from first base. GVSU then tacked on another run in the sixth inning with an RBI single, extending its lead to 5-1.
Saginaw Valley was retired in order and dropped Game 1 by a final score of 5-1 to the Lakers.
Inside the Boxscore
- Schwellenbach scored the Cardinals lone run in Game 1 after drawing a walk in the first inning.
- He was driven in by Chad Carson, who was 1-for-3 at the plate with the RBI double.
- Brendan Harrison provided the other Cardinal hit, reaching base on a single in the first inning.
On the Mound
- Amani Godfrey (L, 2-3) went the distance for Saginaw Valley on the mound. He pitched six innings for the Cardinals, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Game Four
Stellar pitching from Saginaw Valley and GVSU kept the nightcap at a 0-0 draw through the first five innings of play.
Saginaw Valley put a runner on base in each of the first three innings of the contest, reaching base on a hit by pitch in the first, a single from Brendan Harrison in the second, and a walk from Adam Fitzgibbon in the third inning. The Lakers advanced a runner to third base in the third inning but was left stranded, keeping the scoreless tie intact.
Jordan Swiss scored the game's first runs for the Cardinals, roping a double down the left field line that scored Adam Turner and Brendan Harrison. SVSU then moved runners into first and second base and scored a run on a sacrifice bunt, making the score 3-0 Cardinals. An infield single off the bat of Adam Fitzgibbon plated Gerrit Eding to close out the sixth inning up by four runs.
The strong swings continued for the Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh inning. SVSU scored another run off an RBI double from Eding, who reached base on a fielder's choice. He was later brought home by Adam Fitzgibbon, who tacked on two runs with his second hit of the game, a double. SVSU possessed a 7-0 lead with just nine more outs left to earn the split.
GVSU began to mount a comeback in the following inning, scoring two runs in the seventh with a pair of doubles. The Lakers loaded the bases in the eighth and scored a run with an RBI groundout. Later in the inning, Grand Valley plated two runs to cut into the Cardinal lead, 7-5 after eight innings of play.
Swiss moved into scoring position to start the ninth inning with a one-out base hit and a stolen bag. He would be left stranded as SVSU was up by two runs.
Saginaw Valley gave up a run in the ninth, but closed the door on Grand Valley with a fly out to secure the 7-6 victory on the Lakers, obtaining the split in the start of the four-game set.
Inside the Boxscore
- Saginaw Valley scored seven runs on 11 base hits, receiving contributions from seven different players in the winning effort.
- Fitzgibbon set the table for the Cardinals offensively, driving in three runs and finishing with a three-hit game.
- Brendan Harrison notched a multi-hit game against the Lakers, posting a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a run scored and two walks.
- Jordan Swiss also recorded a pair of base hits. He also scored two runs for the Cardinals.
- Eding went 1-for-5 at the dish with two runs scored.
On the Mound
- Alex Millhisler was the Game 2 starter for SVSU, earning his second win of the season with his solid 6.1 innings of work. He gave up only two runs on six hits with no walks and struck out once.
- Brian Feinauer came in for Millhisler in the seventh inning. He pitched one inning and allowed three runs on one base hit, walked two and struck out two.
- Brandon Wise (S, 2) closed the door for the Cardinals in Game 2. He went 1.2 innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
Up Next...
The Cardinals concludes the 2017 regular season schedule on Sunday, as SVSU hosts Grand Valley at the SVSU Baseball Complex on Sunday (May 7) for a league doubleheader. First pitch is set for Noon in University Center. It will also be senior day for SVSU, as the Cards will honor all six seniors prior to the first game.
@SVSUBaseball | #svsubsb | @SVSUAthletics | #GoSVSU