WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Looking for redemption today (March 12) the Saginaw Valley baseball team only found heartache as they lost two games against Mankato (Minn.) State in Russ Matt Tournament action.

In the first game, junior Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich.) went 2-for-3 with one RBI and junior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich.) went 2-for-4, while junior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich.) cleared the bases with a two-run home run in the fifth to lead the Cardinals on offense, in what was a pitcher’s duel through the first six innings, with SVSU junior Andrew Doyle (Grand Blanc, Mich.) battling through seven innings and allowing five runs to leave the game tied 5-5.

But Mankato State bats picked up in the seventh, with freshman Steve Pistono (Sterling Heights, Mich.) on the mound to take a 9-5 advantage they would not relinquish the rest of Game 1.

In Game 2 action, Mankato State picked up right where they left off picking up one run in the bottom of the first and six in the bottom of the third to go up 7-0, before the Cardinals put runs on the board in the top of the fourth when Thomas smacked a single through the left side, followed by freshman Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) ripping an RBI double to left field, followed by an RBI double by junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.) down the left field line. The Cardinals would add one more in the top of the seventh when true freshman Mitch Frazier (Petersburg, Mich.) clocked a solo home run to round out the scoring for the Cardinals on the afternoon. Mankato State would own the second game to come away with a 14-3 win.

The losses drop the Cardinals’ record to 0-8 on the season, with a double-header on the books tomorrow (March 13) against Wheeling Jesuit University. Game 1 is set to get underway at 9 a.m.