HILLSDALE, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team saw its 2013 season come to an end with a split on the road at Hillsdale College today (Apr. 29). The Cardinals fell 3-2 in game one, before winning game two, 6-5, on a walkoff.
Game One vs. Hillsdale - Box Score
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage when Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) drove a single to right field that scored Lindsay Hayward (Ancastor, Ont.) in the top of the second inning.
Saginaw Valley increased their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning when Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field to plate Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.) from third base.
Hillsdale responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. The Chargers took a 3-2 advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning on a solo homerun as they went on to victory over the Cardinals.
Jillian Williamson (Sebewaing, Mich./USA HS) took the loss in the circle for the Cardinals to fall to 6-14 overall on the season. She struck out five batters in the complete game effort.
Game Two vs. Hillsdale - Box Score
Hillsdale took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning before adding two more runs in the top of the fourth inning for the 4-0 advantage.
The Cardinals rallied in the bottom half of the fourth inning when Holmes lined a double to right center to score Kaitlyn McBride (Brampton, Ont./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and Devon Eley (Centerville, Mich.). Two passed balls allowed both Sutton and Holmes to cross the plate and even the score at 4-4.
Hillsdale once again took the lead from Saginaw Valley in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single.
Saginaw Valley benefited from another passed ball in the bottom of the fifth inning when Sutton scored her second run of the game to tie the contest at 5-5.
With the game tied in the bottom of the seventh inning a hard hit rope by Holmes to right center scored Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) from third base and gave the Cardinals the season ending victory, 6-5.
Williamson picked up her seventh win of the season in the circle for the Cardinals in her final collegiate contest. She ended the game with three strikeouts.
With the split, Saginaw Valley closes the season out with a 16-22 record overall and a 12-12 mark in the GLIAC, while Hillsdale ends their season 12-21 overall and 11-15 in the conference.