FINDLAY, Ohio – The Saginaw Valley State baseball team split today (April 1) against GLIAC foe Findlay, dropping the first game in heart-breaking fashion, 15-14, but bounced back to take the second, 12-5. With the split, the SVSU wins the regular season series against the Oilers, 3-2.

GAME 1
In the opener of the twin-bill, the Cardinals appeared to have things in order until the bottom of the ninth, when the Oilers put seven runs on the board for the win.

Before that, however, it was all Saginaw Valley State, because the Cardinals put four runs on the board in the second inning to leap to an early 4-0 lead. Leading off the inning junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) reached first base on an error by the Findlay shortstop, followed by a single off junior Josh Peterson’s (Midland, Mich.) bat. Then, freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) dug in, and smashed a three-run homerun, and like that, the Cardinals were off and running. Next up, freshman Jason Potts (Midland, Mich.) smacked a double to left field, followed by a strike out and fly out, but junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) hit a single that allowed Potts to round third base to score.

In the very next inning, junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) hit the Cardinals’ second homerun of the game, extending the lead to 5-3.

The Cardinals got another big inning in the third as VanAlst got the bats rolling by hitting a single to right field, followed by a double to left center from freshman Jason Potts (Midland, Mich.), putting runners in scoring position for sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.), who ripped an RBI single to left field. Junior Andy Ferraiuolo (Perry, Mich.) grounded out to the pitcher, but advanced Mayner to second, after which junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) took advantage for runner on second and third by hitting a single to left field, driving in Potts and Mayer, and extending the Cardinal lead to 8-3.

Saginaw Valley would add one run in the fifth, and then score four more in the sixth, as Ferriauolo hit a lead-off single to right field, and advance to second on an error by the right fielder, before Dore reached on an error by the pitcher, advancing Ferriauolo to third. With runners on the corners, Dore stole second, giving the Cardinals two in scoring position when Coulter was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Webber. Digging his cleats in, Webber clobbered a grand slam, the first bases-loaded homerun of the season for the Cardinals, giving the Cardinals a 13-8 lead.

SVSU would add one more in the seventh to lead, 14-8, before Ashland, with their backs against the wall, put seven runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh to steal the victory.

GAME 2
In the nightcap, the Cardinals came out swinging, and got three runs in the top off the first, as Ferraiuolo led the game off with a walk, and was then picked off, followed by Coulter reaching on error by the Findlay first baseman. Both Thomas and Webber were hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Peterson, who drew a walk, forcing in one run to start the game’s scoring. With two outs, and the bases loaded, Potts hit a two-RBI single to left field for the 3-0 advantage.

In the top of the second, Ferriauolo hit a one-out single to center field, followed by a Coulter single to left, putting two runners on for Thomas, who smacked a double to left field, scoring two runs, and extending the Cardinal lead to 5-1. Next up, Webber hit an RBI single to center field, Cards up 6-1.

In the fourth, Thomas belted his second home run of the day, putting SVSU up by four, 7-3.

Saginaw Valley’s bats would quite down, and would add only more run in the sixth, before turning up the offense in the top of the seventh. Leading off the last at bat for the Cardinals, Mayner hit a single to left field, followed by a single off the bat of senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland, Mich.). Ferraiuolo reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases for Coulter, who would hit a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher as Mayner crossed home plate on the play. Thomas stepped in, and hit a two-run single to center field. Junior Derek Foyt (Ortonville, Mich.) came in to pinch run for Thomas, before Webber reached on an error by the Oiler catcher, and would advance all the way to third as Foyt came in to score, ending the Cardinal scoring for the afternoon.

In the bottom of the seventh, SVSU got Findlay out 1-2-3 to end the game.

On the mound for the win in Game 2 freshman Steven Janes (Chesterton, Ind.) threw a complete game, allowing only five runs (three of which were earned) on nine hits with five strike outs.

The split gives the Cardinals a 9-15 record overall and 6-6 in the GLIAC, while Findlay is 5-21 overall and 3-9 in the GLIAC. SVSU will return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday for a double-header, and then a single-nine against Tiffin University. The Cardinals are 0-2 against the Dragons this season.