SANDUSKY, Ohio -- The Cardinal Softball team made a run through the consolation bracket of the 2018 GLIAC Tournament, claiming two victories on Saturday before eventually falling in the final of the bracket. SVSU began the day with a last-inning win over Purdue Northwest 2-1 before posting a big 9-1 win over Tiffin. In the third game of the day, the Cardinals fought hard but eventually dropped a 5-2 decision to Davenport.
Purdue Northwest - W, 2-1
The Pride took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd and would hold the Cardinals scoreless until their final at-bat in the home half of the 7th.
Becky Corbett led-off the frame with a single and would promptly steal second. Maddy Burgess then walked and both would advance a base on a Lauren Bachert fly ball. Danielle Hamilton then lined out to center field on a sac fly that scored Corbett. After Burgess moved to third on a wild pitch, Meredith Rousse laced a single to right center field to push Burgess across the the winning run, 2-1.
Mikayla Alexandrou worked the complete game for the win, allowing just one run on three hits. She struck-out five batters and walked six.
Seven Cardinals each had a hit in the game, as Bachert, Rousse (RBI), Aubree Mouthaan, Evy Lobdell, Shelby Misiak (2B), Corbett and Burgess all had hits. Hamilton added the other RBI on the sac fly.
Tiffin - W, 9-1
The Cards were on throughout the game with the Dragons, scoring a pair of runs in the 2nd, a trio in the 4th and closed things out with four runs in the 6th for the 9-1 victory.
Burgess had an RBI infield single and Bachert added an RBI single in the 2nd. Courtney Reeves had a two-RBI triple in the 4th and Lobdell added an RBI single. In the 6th, Alexis Cerven scored on an error, as did Meagan VerVaecke and Alicia Kolacki as pinch-runners. The game would end on a double-steal, as Burgess stole second and Corbett stole home for the game-winning run.
Anna Conard picked-up the complete game victory with 6.0 innings. She scattered six hits, allowing a single run with a strikeout and walk.
Reeves was 3-4 with a triple, run and two RBI. Burgess went 2-3 with a double and RBI. Lobdell also went 2-3 with an RBI. Bachert had two hits as well with an RBI.
Davenport - L, 5-2
Saginaw Valley loaded the bases in the top of the 1st and took a 1-0 lead when Mouthaan drilled a sac fly to right field that plated Hamilton.
The Panthers responded with a run in the 1st to knot the score at 1-1.
The Cardinals added another run in the top of the 3rd for a 2-1 edge when Rousse laced a line drive to the left center fence that ended up in an inside-the-park home run.
Davenport would respond again, however, with another run in the home half of the 3rd to tie the game at 2-2.
The home team would get some separation in the bottom of the 6th, pushing its lead to 5-2 heading into the 7th and final inning.
SVSU would go down in order in the 7th, sending the Panthers to the three-run victory, 5-2.
Saginaw Valley managed just three hits in the finale, with Rousse getting the home run and Lobdell (2B) and Hamilton each adding a hit. Mouthaan had an RBI on the sac fly.
Kasey Bagelmann got the start and worked 2.0 innings, allowing a run on two hits with a pair of walks. Alexandrou took the loss in relief, working 3.2 innings. She allowed four runs on four hits, walking four batters.
Up Next...
The loss to the Panthers in the consolation final ends the tournament for the Cardinals. SVSU will now await the official selections for the 2018 NCAA Division II Tournament, which will be announced Monday evening.
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