UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball program hosted Davenport to a GLIAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals (24-10, 12-4 GLIAC) dropped the first game 4-3 and won the second game 5-3 against the Panthers (10-23, 6-8 GLIAC).
Brandon Scheurer, Hayden Jatczak, Reed Raymond, and Austin Cicerone all had three hits over the two games to lead the Cardinals offensively. Jatczak sparked the comeback in game two with a two-run home run in the fifth to make it a one run game. The pitching staff racked up 21 strikeouts over the 16 innings of play.
The Panthers got on the board early with an RBI single in the top of the first. The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Scheurer scored on a double play. DU jumped back ahead as they found some power in the second and fourth. Solo home runs in both innings gave Davenport a 3-1 lead. Saginaw Valley battled back in the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Reseigh singled through the left side to score Austin Schweiger and Jaccar Watkins singled to right to score Cicerone to tie the game 3-3. Davenport scored the final run with an RBI double in the fifth to take the lead 4-3.
Tyler McLaren (L, 4-2) pitched five innings in his start for SVSU. He allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six. Nick Bastian pitched two scoreless innings in relief allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Carson Fischer (W, 2-6) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks as he totaled three strikeouts. The Panthers used three pitchers in the seventh, all recording one out, with Tyler Kapa (Sv, 2) recording the strikeout to end the game.
Game two started with a Davenport solo home run to put the Panthers up 1-0 in the first. After three scoreless innings, both teams put up two runs in the fifth. Davenport scored on an RBI single and an RBI sacrifice bunt to take a 3-0 lead before Jatczak blasted his eleventh long ball of the season to cut the lead to one.
Steven Hecht started for SVSU and pitched six innings allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five. Jackson Decker (W, 2-0) took over in the seventh and pitched two innings retiring all six batters he faced, four on strikes. In the bottom of the seventh, Jatczak tied the game as he scored on a wild pitch. In the eighth, Saginaw Valley loaded the bases with a single, walk, and an error which chased Brayden Flanders (L, 1-2) out of the game. Jatczak stepped up with two outs and worked the walk to take a 4-3 lead. Colin Cornwell walked to score another run and double the lead. Reed Raymond (Sv, 2) moved from left field to the mound to shut the door. He allowed one hit and struck out two to earn his eleventh save of his career and take third in the program career saves record.
Cardinal baseball completes the six-game season series against Davenport with a doubleheader on Sunday. SVSU holds a 3-1 lead looking to take the series with first pitch of game one at 12:00 PM.