UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team split a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) double-header with Wayne State today (April 28), taking game one by a score of 3-2 and falling 9-4 in game two.
Game One
The Cardinals scored all three runs of their runs in the bottom of the second inning, as sophomore Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich./Concordia University) hit a double to left center field, advancing senior Charlie Thomas (Northville, Mich./Northville HS) to third base. Thomas would then score on a wild pitch, with Hunt advancing to third. Two unearned runs would follow, as Hunt and senior Ryan Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich. /Henry Ford II HS) scored on an error by the second baseman.
With a three-run lead, the Saginaw Valley defense only allowed one run in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively, to seal the 3-2 victory.
Hunt posted the only extra base hit for SVSU with his double in the bottom of the second. Thomas, Ryan Webber (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) and Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) all added singles in the contest as well.
Sophomore Colin Coulter (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) improved to 3-1 on the mound for the Cardinals, throwing six complete innings, recording five strike-outs. Freshman Justin Drzewicki (Bay City, Mich./Bay City Central HS) pitched a perfect seventh for his third save of the season.
Game Two
Trailing 2-0 after the top of the second, Saginaw Valley would again strike in its half of the second inning, posting three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a one run lead. Sophomore Drew Woock (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) got things started for the Cardinals, hitting a two-out double to right field. Woock would then score, as senior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) reached on a Warrior error. Junior Dustin Mayner (Gaines, Mich./Linden HS) would then single through the left side to advance Coulter to second just before senior Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) plated Coulter on a single to right field. Mayner would score on a Hunt infield single to close-out the scoring for the inning.
The Cardinals scored their fourth run in the fourth inning, increasing the lead to two over Wayne State, as Coulter scored on a Kevin Dore (Kawkawlin, Mich./Bay City Western) single down the left field line. The Saginaw Valley defense, however, could not tame the Warrior bats, as Wayne State would go on to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning and posted a four-run seventh inning to clinch the five run victory.
Peterson ended the game with two hits in four plate appearances with one double and an RBI while Coulter added two runs on two hits in the contest. Both Hunt and Dore each picked up an RBI while O'Boyle and Woock added doubles on the afternoon.
With the split, the Cardinals move to 18-20 on the season and 14-14 in GLIAC play while Wayne State is now 28-16 overall on the season and 22-6 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley will return to action this Saturday (May 1), as they travel to Midland, Mich. to take on the Timberwolves of Northwood University (22-24 overall, 12-18 GLIAC) for a doubleheader at Dow Diamond on Saturday at 4:00 pm. The Cardinals and Timberwolves will then finish the weekend with a nine-inning game on Sunday (May 2) at noon at Northwood University.
