UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team  split with Lake Superior State today (Apr. 18), falling 6-4 in game one before defeating the Lakers 1-0 in game two. With the split the Cardinals move to 18-22 overall on the season, and 11-15 in the GLIAC, while Lake Superior moves to 8-25 overall on the season and 5-21 in the GLIAC.

Game 1
The Cardinals took a quick 1-0 lead over Lake Superior when senior Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stephenson HS) drove a home run over the right center field fence.

The Lakers answered back in the bottom of the first inning when Amanda Maxon hit a two run home run over the left field fence.

Saginaw Valley regained their lead in the top of the second inning when they scored two runs on four hits. The tying run came across the plate when Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) doubled to right center, allowing Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) to cross home. SVSU took the 3-2 advantage when freshman Mackenzie Rousse (Bay City, Mich./Western HS) singled up the middle, driving in Kaltz.

Lake Superior knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the second when they scored one run on three hits and one SVSU error.

The contest went back into the hands of the Cardinals in the top of the third inning when Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) led off the inning with a double to left field and Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) followed with a single to center field that would bring in Wellman.

The Lakers took the lead for good from Saginaw Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning when Maxon drove her second home run of the contest over the center field fence, scoring three runs and allowing LSSU to go on to a 6-4 victory over the Cardinals.

Jillian Williamson (Unionville, Mich./USA HS) suffered the loss for the Cardinals pitching five innings, while Kayla Kazmierski (Pinconning, Mich.) pitched one inning of relief. Rousse led the way for Saginaw Valley going two-for-three at the plate with one run batted in, while both Coffin and Hayward were two-for-four with one run batted in.

Game 2
The lone run of the contest crossed the plate for Saginaw Valley when Devon Eley (Centreville, Mich.) knocked a double to the right field fence. Coffin drove in the run when she lined a single through the right side of the field, scoring pinch runner Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp., Mich.).

Pitcher Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) and the SVSU defense held the Lakers to only one hit through seven innings.

Coffin was one-for-four at the plate with one run batted in, while both Eley and Katie Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) both went two-for-three at the plate.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Friday (Apr. 20) when they travel to Ferris State. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 PM.