ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State baseball team got a big victory over the #2-ranked Grand Valley State University today (April 26), 5-3.

The Cardinals and the Lakers were set to square off in a three-game showdown, but Games 2 and 3 were canceled due to inclement weather in the Allendale region of the state.

In the game, which was continued from Saturday (April 25), the Cardinals fought uphill to get the win, after falling behind 2-0 before the game was suspended due to inclement weather.

Saginaw Valley got on the board in the second inning as junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) drew a lead-off walk, followed by freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) reached on a single to right field. Following a weather delay, freshman Luke McClain (Mt. Morris, Mich.) advanced Peterson and VanAlst as he grounded out to third base, moving runners into scoring position for freshman Ran Ermers (Utica, Mich.), who grounded out to second, but was able to get Peterson home while VanAlst moved to third.

With two outs in the fifth inning, junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) continued his white-hot hitting with a double to center field, followed by an RBI single from junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) to bring the Cardinals within one of the Lakers.

SVSU would draw even with GVSU in the sixth, as Peterson hit his fifth homerun of the season. With one out, McClain doubled down the left field line, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Next up, Ermers hit a single up the middle to bring McClain home to give the Cardinals a one-run advantage as the game moved into the Laker half of the sixth. Freshman Ryan Longstreth (Beaverton, Mich.) gave up just one hit in the inning to preserve the lead for SVSU as the game moved into the seventh inning.

Coulter stepped in and singled to left field, and moved second on a junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) sacrifice bunt. With two outs, the Lakers intentionally walked Peterson before senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland, Mich.) dug in to pinch hit for VanAlst, and promptly doubled down the right field line, driving Coulter in to cap the Cardinal scoring for the game.

In the Laker half pf the seventh, Longstreth gave up one hit, and no runs to preserve the win for the Cardinals. He went 7 innings, giving up nine hits, while striking out three. With the win, the Cardinals are now 16-24-1 overall, and 12-15-1 in the GLIAC. SVSU will return to action Wednesday (April 29) to take on Wayne State in Detroit, Mich. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.