UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team defeated the University of Findlay twice today (Apr. 2) in their 2010 season home opener with scores of 10-0 and 8-0.
Game One
The Cardinals got things going in the third inning when they scored eight runs on seven hits. Senior Shannon McLaughlin (Benton Harbor, Mich. / KVCC) led off the inning with a double to left center, sophomore Lauren Memmer (White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland HS) laid down a bunt for a hit that advanced McLaughlin to third. Senior Billi Hoeppner (Hemlock, Mich.) singled for a bunt and scored McLaughlin and junior Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) singled through the right side to score Memmer. Senior Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich. / Our Lady of the Lakes HS) continued the hitting streak with a double to right field scoring Jordan to make the score 4-0. Saginaw Valley continued hitting the ball as senior Nikki Bigelow (Grandville, Mich.) stepped to the plate and hit a single to right field.
The Cardinals would pick up where they left off in the third inning scoring two more runs to end the contest in the fifth inning. Junior Jill Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) singles to right field to get things started for Saginaw Valley. Kaiser hit a line shot double out to the center field fence to and pinch runner Allison Jaskullka (Madison Heights, Mich. / Lamphere HS) advanced to third. Pinch hitter Katie Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Jaskullka and advanced Kaiser to third. Junior Monica Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) pinch hit and singled to right field scoring Kaiser.
Junior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) got the start in the circle for the Cardinals improving her to 8-1 on the season. Fulton had nine strikeouts and only allowed two hits on the day.
Game Two
Saginaw Valley picked up in the second game right where they left off scoring at least one run in four of the five innings they played. Memmer led off the inning with a single to the shortstop, and Peterson would knock her in with a single up the middle.
Memmer would start the scoring again for the Cardinals when she led off the third inning with a bunt single and stole second base. Junior Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) singles to right field scoring Memmer. Jordan doubled to center field which scored McKeith. Kaiser singled to second base which loaded the bases for Saginaw Valley where they executed and scored two more runs in the inning.
McKeith who went 3-for-3 on the day singled to center field in the fourth inning and came around to score to score after an error by Findlay. Gathright was hit by a pitch and freshman Dana Velzy (Farmington, Mich.) singled through the right side of the field and they both scored on a McKeith triple to right center in the top of the fifth inning.
Memmer started in the circle and pitched her first no hitter on the season with three strikeouts and no walks. She improves to 2-1 overall on the season.
With the win the Cardinals improve to 17-2 overall on the season, and 4-0 in the GLIAC, while Findlay falls to 11-15 overall on the season, and 1-3 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley returns to action on Saturday (Apr. 3) when they take on Hillsdale College. Game times are scheduled for 1:00pm and 3:00pm.