UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – In game that was delayed two hours due to wet field conditions, the Saginaw Valley State baseball team showed no signs of being waterlogged today (March 29) as they decisively beat #2-ranked Ashland University, 10-5, in a game that was called in the bottom of the eighth inning due to inclement weather.

The Cardinals jumped out to a five run lead over Ashland by the second inning. The scoring started in the bottom of the first inning as freshman Ryan Ermers (Utica, Mich.) and junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) drew walks to put the first two Cardinal runners on base. After Ermers was picked off at second, junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) singled to the left side to move Coulter to second. Both runners advanced bases on a pass ball before junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) and junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) walked to force Coulter home for the first run of the game. Freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) would draw another walk forcing Thomas in as the bases remained loaded for freshman Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) who hit a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in Webber. VanAlst and Peterson would advance to second and third, respectively on a balk, putting runners in scoring position with two outs before Ashland would pick up the final out of the inning.

The bats kept rolling through the second inning as the Cardinals put two more on the scoreboard to jump out to a quick 5-0 lead. Ermers drew a one-out walk before advancing to second on a Coulter single through the left side. Thomas reached first on an error by the left fielder, moving Ermers and Coulter to second and third bases. Webber would then reach on a fielder’s choice to put Thomas and Coulter on second and third bases while scoring Ermers on a throwing error by the pitcher. Peterson would follow with a walk to score Coulter and load the bases for VanAlst. After an Eagle pitching change, VanAlst would reach first on a fielder’s choice as Thomas was called out at home plate.

Ashland would score four runs in the top of the third inning to come within one, 5-4.

Sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.) would lead off the third inning by smashing a homerun over the left field fence to continue an offensive explosion by the Cardinals. Senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland, Mich.) would follow with a stand-up double to left center field before Ermers would reach second on a throwing error by the Eagle’s shortstop, advancing Schwedler to third base. With one out, Thomas would double to center field driving in Schwedler and Ermers. After Webber walked and Peterson flew out to the shortstop, VanAlst reached first on an error by the Eagle’s shortstop and advanced to second on the throw, scoring both Webber and Thomas. Potts grounded out to the first baseman to end the Cardinal scoring.

Ashland would add one more in the top of the fifth inning to close the scoring for the game.

Junior Scott Haase (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) threw four innings, allowed five runs while striking out one before freshman Steve Pistono (Sterling Heights, Mich.) took over on the mound, allowing no runs, two hits and striking out three batters before the game was called in the bottom of the eighth inning due to weather.

With the win, Saginaw Valley improves to 8-14 overall, 5-5 in the GLIAC while the Eagles fall to 20-8 overall, 5-2 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals will return to action April 1 for two games in Findlay, Ohio.