KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split on day four of the Rebel Spring Games, dropping their first game to Rockhurst 6-1 before defeating Fayetteville State by a 9-3 tally.
Game One vs. Rockhurst - Box Score
Rockhurst would jump out to an early 2-0 lead behind a homerun to left field into a driving wind. The Saginaw Valley offense would try and rally in the bottom of the first, but would leave Amanda Kimes (Caladonia, Mich.) and Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) on base.
After stranding seven base runners in the first three innings the Cardinals would finally get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kimes laced a double up the middle to score Mackenzie Rousse (Bay City, Mich./Western HS) from first base.
Rockhurst would add four runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined to go on to the 6-1 victory.
Jillian Williamson (Sebewaing, Mich. / Unionville Sebewaing Area HS) threw all seven innings for the Cardinals allowing three earned runs and striking out eight Hawk batters as she was credited with the loss.
Game Two vs. Fayetteville State - Box Score
Saginaw Valley wasted little time getting on the scoreboard against Fayetteville State as Rousse scored on a Kimes groundout to give SVSU the early 1-0 lead after one inning.
The Cardinals would extend their lead to 6-0 in the second inning thanks to some sloppy play from the Broncos. An error on a Katie Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) slapper plated both Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS) and Devon Eley (Centreville, Mich.). Happ ripped a double earlier in the inning that drove in Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.).
SVSU would add to their lead in the fifth inning when Chelsea Adcock (Pinconning, Mich.) got an outfielder assist on a solo homerun to right center for her first career longball.
Saginaw Valley would go up 8-1 in the top of the sixth inning when freshman Kaitlyn McBride (Brampton, Ont. / St. Thomas Aquinas HS) scored on a throwing error by the Broncos.
Fayetteville would add two runs in the sixth inning to close the gap to 8-3, but the Cardinals would respond in the top of the seventh with an insurance run to close the game out with the 9-3 victory.
Sarah Vrabel (Canfield, Ohio) picked up the win in the circle for the Cardinals, throwing five solid inning and striking out three batters.
The Cardinals will return to the diamond on Thursday as they continue play at the Rebel Spring Games with double-header against nationally ranked Indianapolis University.