Saginaw Valley splits with Bearcats in softball doubleheader

Saginaw Valley splits with Bearcats in softball doubleheader

LEBANON, Ill. -- SVSU's Softball team continued its spring trip against regional opponents, playing at McKendree University on Wednesday (Mar. 7) afternoon. The Cardinals and Bearcats split the games, with SV taking the first game in six innings by a 12-4 count before falling by a 5-3 margin in the second game. 

Game 1 (W, 12-4)

It didn't take long for SV to strike, going for two runs in the top of the 1st to grab an early 2-0 lead. Danielle Hamilton reached on an error, stole second and was brought home on a two-run shot from Meredith Rousse

The Bearcats would respond, going for three runs in the home half of the 2nd inning to take the 3-2 lead. 

RBI doubles from Courtney Reeves (2) and Evy Lobdell tacked-on three runs for the Cardinals, putting them back ahead by a 5-3 score in the top of the 3rd frame. 

SVSU would power its way to five more runs, pushing the lead to 11-3 in the top of the 5th frame. Rousse had an RBI double and that was followed by a two-run home run from Reeves. Aubree Mouthaan would dig-in a few batters later and put a three-run blast over the fence to cap-off the scoring for the inning. 

McKendree added a run of its own in the home half of the 5th, trimming the deficit to 11-4. 

Lobdell had an infield single to score Alexis Cerven in the top of the 6th inning, pushing the lead back out to eight runs at 12-4. The Bearcats were unable to add any more runs in the bottom of the 6th, ending the game as a result of the mercy rule for the SVSU victory.

Anna Conard moved to 4-0 on the season after tossing all six innings. She allowed four runs on six hits, striking-out a pair and walking six. 

Rousse went 4-for-4 in the game with a home run, double, three RBI and three runs scored with a steal. Reeves drove-in four runs, going 2-for-3 with a home run, double and two runs scored. Lobdell was 2-for-3 as well, knocking-in two runs with a double and run. Hamilton was 1-for-2, scoring three times and adding a walk and pair of stolen bases. Mouthaan had one hit, with that being a huge one in the form of a three-run home run.  

Game 2 (L, 5-3)

McKendree took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the 1st inning and the Cardinals knotted that up at 1-1 in the top of the 2nd when Lauren Bachert and Meagan Vervaecke traded spots with consecutive doubles, accounting for the first run. 

The Bearcats tacked-on another run in the bottom of the 2nd, giving the home squad the 2-1 edge.

Saginaw Valley added two more in the top of the 3rd, giving the visitors the 3-2 lead. Those runs came when a Lobdell RBI single scored Maddy Burgess and then Bachert scored Reeves on a grounder to second base. 

The home team would not go away, however, scoring a run in the bottom of the 3rd and two more in the 4th to take a 5-3 advantage. That's where the score remained, as McKendree salvaged the split on the day with SVSU. 

Rousse went 2-for-3 in the nightcap with a walk and stolen base. Lobdell and VerVaecke each had a hit as well with an RBI, with VerVaecke's hit being a double. Bachert had a double with an RBI and run scored as well. 

Elayne Young (0-2) took the loss in the circle, working 3.0 innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking-out one and walking two. Mikayla Alexandrou worked 3.0 innings as well, allowing just one earned run on three hits, adding a strikeout and walking one batter. 

Up Next...

The Cardinals and Bearcats will meet again on Thursday (Mar. 8) for another regional doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m. eastern time in the opener. 

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