Charleston, W.V. — Saginaw Valley State ended their spring break trip with a split series against the University of Charleston Saturday (Mar. 10) afternoon. Game one, the Cardinals fell 3-2, followed by a 10-5 victory in game two heading to an 11-4 overall record.
SVSU heads to their best season start since 2008, where they had 31 wins on the season and started out the year with an 11-4 record, as well.
Game One UC 3, SVSU 2
Even with bases loaded for Saginaw Valley State in the top of the first, the Cardinals could not get the base hit they needed to take the lead over the Golden Eagles. Charleston responded with two runs to go up 2-0 over SVSU.
The second inning remained scoreless for both teams, leaving Saginaw Valley stranded in a two run deficit.
Luckily, the third inning was once again hot, with #13 in the nation batting average, Jordan Swiss, notching a double to left center, bringing teammate Adam Fitzgibbon around the plate to cut the UC lead in half.
Quincy Jones then went on to send a single to right field, advancing to second on the throw, sending Swiss in for the tying run, 2-2.
The Golden Eagles then singled to center field, notching a runner home to go up, 3-2.
After a scoreless next three innings for both teams, the Cardinals loaded the bases in the final moments of the top of the seventh with two outs. Jones sent a solid swing to right field, but with UC's impressive catch, Saginaw Valley went on to leave three stranding and give the victory to the University of Charleston, 3-2.
Mason Schwellenbach (2-1) pitched a complete game for SVSU and takes the loss, working six innings with three strikeouts, three walks and three earned runs.
The Golden Eagles led the series 2-1 going into the finale contest.
Game Two SVSU 6, UC 1
Charleston led after the first inning where they scored one run off of two hits. Although, SVSU responded quickly in second inning of play.
Griffin Green doubled to right center to start off the second inning, with Cole Brooks and Collin Winters scoring to go up 2-1.
Derrek Clyde then flied out to right field, SAC, plating Green. Fitzgibbon singled to center field, 2 RBI, with Wilson and Gerrit Eding scoring for the Cardinals to go up 5-1 over the Golden Eagles.
Swiss ended the high scoring inning with a double, plating Fitzgibbon, who is currently 43rd in the nation for averaging 1.36 runs per game.
Saginaw Valley ended the second inning with seven hits and six runs.
The next two innings were scoreless for the Cardinals, but the Golden Eagles snuck in three runs to cut Saginaw Valley's lead to three (8-5) after the fifth inning of play.
In the top of the sixth, SVSU baseball plated a pair of runs to extend their lead to five over Charleston.
One-two-three inning for reliever, Brian Feinhauer, leads the Cardinals with a 10-5 lead heading into the top of the seventh.
No scores in the bottom of the seventh finalizes the count at 10-5 for a SVSU finale win.
With the victory over the Golden Eagles, Saginaw Valley goes .500 on the weekend with UC, splitting the series 2-2.
Brandon Wise (2-1) gets his second win of the season, working five innings, striking out one and walked three.
The team ends the spring break trip going 9-2 overall.
Up Next...
SVSU will spend the week at home training until Friday (Mar. 16) where they will head to play Truman State in a four game series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. against the Bulldogs. Stay up to date on the games at www.svsucardinals.com.
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