HAMMOND, Ind. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball program wrapped up their weekend and season series against Purdue Northwest Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals (28-12, 16-6 GLIAC) defeated the Pride (17-20, 7-15 GLIAC) with a final score of 11-3.
Connor McClennen had a three-hit day with five other Cardinals getting two hits each. Jackson Decker (W, 4-0) pitched a gem in his long relief appearance. Decker threw 5.2 scoreless innings allowing three hits and struck out eight. Ben Kochany started on the mound for SVSU allowing three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings of work.
Purdue Northwest started the scoring in the bottom of the third with a bases loaded double that plated three runs to put the Pride up 3-0. Saginaw Valley put up their own crooked numbers in the fourth and the fifth innings. SVSU scored four in the fourth to take the lead as Austin Cicerone singled home Austin Schweiger and Colin Cornwell to make it 3-2 PNW. McClennen tied the game with an RBI single to score Cicerone and then a Brandon Scheurer single scored Jeff Reseigh to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. All four runs were taxed to PNW starter Jake Nightingale (L, 2-5) who departed during the fourth inning.
In the fifth, Reed Raymond singled home Col. Cornwell to extend the lead to two. Lucas Mead doubled the advantage with a two-RBI double down the right field line. Mead scored to end the scoring in the fifth on another Scheurer RBI single to make it 9-3 SVSU.
The Cardinals tallied a run in the sixth and seventh to keep the pressure on. Raymond scored on a ground ball double play in the top of the sixth and Scheurer scored on a Col. Cornwell ground out in the seventh to make it 11-3 Cardinals. That run is the 61st run scored by Schuerer on the year setting a new single season record for SVSU baseball. A record set back in 1999 by Kraig Enders.
Will Juday pitched the ninth with an eight run lead for the Cardinals. He allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out one to close the game for SVSU.
With the win, SVSU claims a 4-2 season series victory over Purdue Northwest and continue to sit atop the GLIAC standings. The Cardinals have one more road game of the season before two home weekends to end the regular season. Northwood hosts Saginaw Valley to the Dow Diamond Classic on Tuesday. First pitch from Midland, Michigan is set for 6:30 PM EST.