UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team was swept by Wayne State today (Apr. 13) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest. The Cardinals fell 8-6 in game one and 8-4 in game two. With the losses SVSU falls to 16-18 overall on the season and 9-11 in the GLIAC, while the Warriors improve to 20-18 overall on the season, and 12-8 in the GLIAC.
Game 1
Saginaw Valley took the early lead over the Warriors when they scored two runs on one hit in the bottom of the first inning. The first run of the contest came across the plate when Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) singled up the middle, scoring Wellman from third base. Junior Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) hit a deep sacrifice fly ball to center field that scored Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS).
Wayne State answered back to the Cardinals in the top of the third inning when they scored two runs on an Alison Allen double to left center field, knotting the score at 2-2.
Saginaw Valley regained their lead in the bottom of the third inning on back-to-back doubles from Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp., Mich.) and Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS), taking the 3-2 lead. The Cardinals took the 4-2 lead when Holmes hit her second sacrifice fly of the contest to left field, bringing around Wellman. SVSU tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third inning when Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stephenson HS) singled up the middle, allowing Happ to touch home.
Wayne State took control of the game in the top of the fifth inning when they scored five runs on four hits and capitalized on one Cardinal throwing error.
Saginaw Valley battled back scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Coffin reached first on a Warrior error, bringing around Hayward.
Wayne State tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh inning, allowing them to take the 8-6 victory over the Cardinals.
Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) suffered the loss pitching all seven innings, while Hayward was one-for-two at the plate with one run batted in and scoring once and Holmes drove in two runs on the contest.
Game 2
Wayne State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over SVSU when Logan White hit a two run homerun over the right field fence.
The Cardinals came within one in the top of the second inning when sophomore Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) drove a homerun over the left field fence.
The Warriors extended their lead to three in the bottom of the third inning when Rebecca Ryan hit a two run homerun over the center field fence.
The Cardinals scored in the top of the fourth inning when Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) hit a homerun over the left field fence, making the score 4-2.
The Warriors offense put together six hits and scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking the 8-2 lead over SVSU.
The Cardinals rallied in the top of the fifth inning when Coffin singled up the middle and advanced to second on a Hayward single. Coffin came around to score when Wellman hit a two out single to center field, bringing SVSU within five of Wayne State.
Saginaw Valley started another rally in the top of the seventh inning when freshman Mallie Hall (Chicago, Ill./Bolingbrook HS) reached first on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a Happ single to center field, but the lone run was not enough as SVSU fell 8-4 to the Warriors.
Jillian Williamson (Unionville, Mich./USA HS) suffered the loss for the Cardinals, pitching four innings, while freshman Kayla Kazmierski (Pinconning, Mich.) pitched two innings in relief. Hayward led the way for SVSU going three-for-three at the plate, while Kaltz and Kimes added two hits each.
Saginaw Valley will be back in action on Saturday (Apr. 14) when they take on Tiffin University. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 1:00 PM.