UNIVERSITY CENTER - The SVSU softball team hosted a regional opponent in the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Tuesday afternoon in a week doubleheader at the SVSU Softball Complex. The Cardinals held on in a pair of tight games, using a Bethaney Murphey two-run walk-off home run in a 3-1 opening game, extra-inning victory and a game-winning RBI single from Madison Burgess in game two to complete the sweep with a 3-2 win.
Game One
Saginaw Valley got out to a quick 1-0 lead in the home half of the first inning when Meredith Rousse drove-in Danielle Hamilton with the game's first run.
The next run would come in the top of the fourth inning when the Rangers knotted the score at 1-1 when they notched an unearned run.
That same 1-1 score held true through the first seven innings and the game went into extra-innings.
SVSU starting pitcher Anna Conard held the visitors scoreless once again in the eighth inning, setting the stage for a Cardinal victory in the bottom of the inning.
Evy Lobdell roped a double over the center fielder's head with one out, giving the home squad a scoring opportunity. A deep flyout by Shelby Weeks allowed pinch-runner Becky Corbett to move up to third base. Up next was Murphey, who ripped a deep home run over the left field fence, ending the game and giving SV the 3-1 victory.
Inside the Boxscore
- The walk-off long ball was Murphey's sixth of the 2016 season.
- Lobdell was 3-for-4 in the contest, marking a season-high for hits in a game this year for the sophomore.
- Madison Burgess went 2-for-4 in the game to continue her solid offense this season.
- Rousse had the RBI double in the game for SV.
- Conard (2-0) went the distance, pitching all 8.0 innings while scattering four hits, allowing one unearned run and posting five strikeouts. She walked just one batter.
Game Two
The Rangers got ahead in the first inning of the nightcap, putting a run on the board in the top half to grab the 1-0 advantage.
Burgess had an RBI triple in the bottom of hte fourth to tie the game at 1-1, scoring Kennedi Thomas from first after she reached on a fielder's choice.
The bottom of the sixth saw the Cardinals grab a 2-1 edge after Lobdell hit an RBI single up the middle off the pitcher's glove that trickled towards the shortstop, scoring Burgess.
Parkside manufactured a run in the top of the seventh to even things at 2-2 heading into the last of the seventh inning.
Jessica Wood hit a bloop single down the right field line and would be promptly advanced to third base after a pair of wild pitches. Breanna Dinsmoore would then walk to set up a first and third. Pinch-hitter Sarah Vrabel hit a line-drive to center field, which was a tough read for Wood as the ball dropped in front of a diving defender. That would give the Cards bases-loaded with one out. Burgess would bat next and came up big, knocking a shot past the second baseman to score Wood and seal another walk-off victory.
Inside the Boxscore
- Burgess had three hits in five at-bats with a run scored and pair of RBIs.
- Lobdell, Wood, Dinsmoore, Hamilton and Vrabel had single hits to make up for the eight total for SVSU.
- Lobdell had an RBI and walked three times in the contest as well.
- Wood and Thomas each scored a run along with Burgess.
- Annie Hansen (6-1) struck-out four batters, walked two and allowed two runs on seven hits in her complete game victory.
Saginaw Valley improves to 26-12 overall on the season after the sweep. The Cardinals travel to play Wayne State University Wednesday (Apr. 20) in a mid-week doubleheader against the GLIAC-leading Warriors. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in Detroit.
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