UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State baseball team split a doubleheader today (March 21) with the Oilers of Findlay University. In the first game, the Cardinals captured the win, 4-2, however they could not hold on in the second matchup as they fell, 10-7.

The first game, the Cardinals took an early lead in the first inning, 3-0 as junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) hit a 2-run line drive homerun into left field. In the bottom of the fifth inning, sophomore Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich.) singled to center field, hitting in junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.), making the score 4-0. Findlay put two runs on the scoreboard late in the game, but it wouldn’t be enough as Saginaw Valley held on for their first GLIAC victory.

Junior Andrew Doyle (Grand Blanc, Mich.) got the win for the Cardinals, facing 28 batters, and only giving up one run, five hits while striking out eight in six innings of play. Junior Scott Haase (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) picked up the save.

In Game 2, Saginaw Valley fell behind early, as Findlay was able to put three runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first. The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom half of the innings as Peterson tripled to center field, scoring two runs to bring the Cardinals within one, to end the first inning 3-2.

In the top of the second, however, Findlay was able to put six runs on the scoreboard, leaving the Cardinals down by seven runs with plenty of baseball left in the game. Findlay would add one more in the top of the third, and wouldn’t score again as Saginaw Valley’s defense buckled down and didn’t allow another run in the game.

The Cardinals put on a rally in the bottom of the seventh as juniorJustin Gouthro stepped in to pinch hit for junior Andy Ferraiuolo (Perry, Mich.), and doubled to center field to begin the inning. Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to left field, advancing Gouthro two bags to third base. Junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) hit a single to third base, scoring Gouthro, followed by Mayner who would smack a double to left field, driving in two runs for the Cardinals, making the score 10-6. Freshman Nick Galina (Troy, Mich.) stepped into the batter’s box to pinch hit for freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) and hit a line drive up the middle to score one run. Saginaw Valley would end the game on a ground out to the first baseman, finalizing the score, 10-7.

With the split doubleheader, the Cardinals’ record moves to 4-12 overall, and 1-3 in the GLIAC, while Findlay moves to 3-13 overall, and 1-3 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley will return to action tomorrow (March 22) hoping to go 2-1 against the Oilers in the weekend series.