ASHLAND, Ohio. – The Saginaw Valley State baseball team won one and lost one today (April 23) against the #5 Ashland Eagles, winning the first game 5-4 and falling in the second, 7-1.

GAME 1
In the opener, the Cardinal offense scorched the first inning, as SVSU was able to get all five runs in the opening stanza. Junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) continued his powerhouse offense as he led the game off with a double to right center field, and then advanced to third on a passed ball before junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) drove him in with a single to left field. With one out, hitting in the four-spot, junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) clocked his fifth homerun of the season to put the Cardinals up 3-0. Webber’s homerun tied him with junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) for the long-ball lead. With two outs, freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) doubled to right center, followed by an RBI double off sophomore Dustin Mayner’s (Gaines, Mich.) bat. Mayner advanced to third off an Ashland throwing error, and came home on a single from freshman Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.), for the Cardinals’ fifth and final run of the game.

Those five runs were enough, as the Eagles put on a comeback that fell short by scoring one run in the fifth, and three more in the sixth. But, sophomore Scott Horman (St. Louis, Mich.) didn’t get rattled on the mound as he focused and completed the win with four strikeouts, one walk, while allowing eight hits.

GAME 2
In the nightcap, the Cardinal offense struggled to get off to the rocket-quick start they enjoyed in the first game. SVSU was only able to get one run on the board in the fifth inning as Thomas got the bats going with a single, and would advance to second as Potts grounded out to the Ashland shortstop. Junior Derek Foyt (Ortonville, Mich.) then knocked Thomas home with a single to provide the only run of the game for the Cardinals.

On the mound for the loss, junior T.J. Swanson (Saline, Mich.) struck out six, walked only one, while giving up six earned runs on 10 hits in the complete game.

With the win and loss, the Cardinals are now 15-24-1 overall, and 11-15-1 in the GLIAC, while Ashland is 37-10 overall, and remain in the top-spot in GLIAC at 22-4. SVSU will return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 25) to take on GLIAC rival Grand Valley State for a doubleheader, and then at 1 p.m. Sunday (April 26) for a single-nine contest.