HILLSDALE, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State baseball team won one and lost one today (April 18) against the Hillsdale Chargers, falling in the first game 11-10, but rebounding to take the second game 5-3.

GAME 1
In the opener of the twin-bill, the Cardinals struck first in the opening inning with back-to-back doubles, first from junior Kevin Dore (Bay City, Mich.) pounded the ball to left center, then junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) dropped on to right center to drive in Dore.

Hillsdale managed to get the run back by hitting a homerun in the bottom of the first, before going up by two in the second.

However, the lead would not stand for long as Saginaw Valley got a huge inning in the third by driving in six runs to take a commanding 7-3 lead. First up, Dore got his second hit of the game by driving a single to right field, followed by Coulter getting hit by a pitch. With one out, junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) singled to left center and advanced to second as Hillsdale tried to get Coulter out at third as Dore scored. With runners on second and third, junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) clobbered a three-run homerun to left field. With two outs, freshman Ryan Ermers (Utica, Mich.) hit a single to right field, followed by an RBI double to center field off freshman Jason Potts’ (Clio, Mich.) bat. With one on, and two outs, senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland, Mich.) nailed a double to center field, knocking in Potts, ending the scoring in the third.

Hillsdale was able to get one run back in the bottom of the third, before putting five on the board in the fifth inning to go up 9-7.

Not deterred, the Cardinals came right back to put three on the board in the sixth as junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) hit a lead-off double down the left field line, followed by a walk issued to Webber. After a wild pitch advanced both runners a base, Peterson was intentionally walked to load the bases. After a pitching chance, freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) was hit by a pitch, forcing Thomas across the plate. With the bases still loaded, Ermers reached on a fielder’s choice as Webber was called out at home. Next up, Potts reached on a Charger error, which allowed Peterson to score from third. Schwedler then reached on a fielder’s choice, as VanAlst was called out at home. With two outs, Dore stepped in, and got his third hit of the game, knocking in Ermers to end the Cardinal scoring, and putting SVSU up 10-9.

However, it was not enough for the win, as the Chargers were able to knock in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game, 11-10.

GAME 2
In the second game, the Cardinals shook off the loss, and set their sights on the game ahead of them.

Dore led the game off with a single, and advanced to second on a balk, but was tagged out trying to reach third. Next up, Coulter singled to center field, followed by an RBI double to center field from Thomas, giving the Cardinals the early advantage, 1-0.

The Chargers came back with one run in their half of the inning, knotting the game, 1-1, which would stand until the Cardinals took the lead back in the third with Dore hit a single to right field, and promptly stole second and third. With one out, Thomas stepped in, and singled to center field, driving in Dore home to end the SVSU scoring for the inning.

Hillsdale bounced back by putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the third to go up 3-2.

That lead would stand until the Cardinal sixth, as Peterson dug in and drove a double to left center field. Junior Derek Foyt (Ortonville, Mich.) stepped in the pinch hit for VanAlst, and dropped down a sacrifice bunt to advance Peterson to third. Next up, Potts singled to center, driving Peterson home. With sophomore Scott Horman (St. Louis, Mich.) on to pinch run for Potts, Ermers stepped in to clock a triple to center field, bringing Horman around to score. After a pitching change, the white-hot Dore was intentionally walked, followed by a walk issued to Coulter and Thomas, forcing Ermers to cross the plate to end the game’s scoring.

On the mound for the Cardinals, freshman Ryan Longstreth (Beaverton, Mich.) went the distance, and allowed three runs on 11 hits, while striking out three. Over the two-game stretch, Dore went 6-6, scoring three runs, and knocking in one.

The Cardinals are now 13-23-1 overall and 9-15-1 in the GLIAC, while Hillsdale is 10-25 overall and 3-19 in the GLIAC. These teams will meet in the rubber match Sunday (April 19), first pitch is scheduled for noon.