BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team was swept by Ferris State today (Apr 21), falling 5-1 in game one and 8-7 in game two in eight innings. With the losses the Cardinals fell to 18-24 overall on the season and 11-17 in the GLIAC, while the Bulldogs improve to 25-21 overall on the season and 16-12 in the GLIAC.
Game 1
Ferris State took the 2-0 lead over SVSU in the bottom of the third inning when they scored two runs on three hits.
The Cardinals answered back in the top of the fourth inning when freshman Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp., Mich.) doubled to center field, bringing around Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) to score the only Saginaw Valley run of the contest.
The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and one SVSU error to allow them to go on to a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals.
Pitcher Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) suffered the loss for Saginaw Valley pitching 3.2 innings, while freshman Kayla Kazmierski (Pinconning, Mich.) pitched 2.1 innings in relief for the Cardinals. Randall led the way for SVSU with two hits while Hayward and Devon Eley (Centreville, Mich.) added a hit each.
Game 2
The Bulldogs lit the scoreboard first in game two when they scored two runs on a Morgan Kramerich double to right center.
Ferris State tacked on one more run in the top of the fifth inning when Lindsey Pettit hit a homerun over the center field fence.
The Cardinals scored their first run of the contest when Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.) doubled to right center and Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) doubled to center, driving in Kenyon.
The Bulldogs responded immediately adding two more runs on a two-run homerun over the left field fence, giving them the 5-1 advantage over SVSU.
The Cardinals knotted the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Hayward hit a grand slam, scoring Ashley Coffin (Sterling Height, Mich./Stephenson HS), Randall and Wellman, sending the game into extra innings.
Ferris State quickly regained their lead when they scored three runs on back-to-back singles through the infield.
Saginaw Valley battled in the bottom of the eighth inning when Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) reached first on a fielder's choice that allowed Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) to score, bringing the Cardinals within two of the Bulldogs. SVSU scored one more run when Randall looked at four pitches with bases loaded to bring in Kenyon, but it was not enough as the Bulldog defense sat down the final two outs of the inning, allowing them to go on to a 8-7 victory.
Jillian Williamson (Unionville, Mich./USA HS) got the start pitching six innings, while Kazmierski pitched the final two, suffering the loss. Hayward led the way going three-for-five with four runs batted in, while Randall and Kenyon both added two hits apiece.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Sunday (Apr. 22) when they have a re-match against Ferris State. The contest is a makeup game for the Friday (Apr. 20) rain out. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 10 AM.