UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team swept Findlay today (Mar. 31), 3-1 and 6-2 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest. With the wins the Cardinals improve to 9-8 overall and 6-0 in the GLIAC, while the Oilers fall to 6-13 overall on the season and 1-7 in the GLIAC.

Game 1
The contest remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when the Cardinals broke open the scoreboard scoring three runs when they capitalized on three Findlay errors. Junior Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich./Olney Central College) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on two passed balls. LaFave crossed home, giving SVSU the 1-0 lead when Ryan Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) reached first on an Oiler error. Saginaw Valley took the 2-0 advantage when Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) reached first on a fielder's choice, allowing Dan Norton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS) to score from third. The Cardinals extended their lead to 3-0 when Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) hit a sacrifice fly to left field bringing in freshman Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.).

Findlay tried to come back in the top of the seventh inning when they scored one run on three hits, but it was not enough as SVSU went on to a 3-1 victory.

Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) notched the win, pitching a complete game, while Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich./Concordia University) and Ermers each had a hit in the contest.

Game 2
The Cardinals took an early lead over the Oilers when Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) singled through the left side of the field in the bottom of the first inning, allowing Brandon Schwanz (Novi, Mich./Henry Ford II) to score from third.

Saginaw Valley tacked on a run in the bottom of the second inning when Hunt laced a single through the left side of the field, bringing in Michael Craig (Milan, Mich), giving the Cardinals a 2-0 advantage.

The Oilers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third when they scored two runs on one hit and one SVSU error.

The Cardinals took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when they scored one run on three hits.

Saginaw Valley added three more runs, allowing them to go on to a 6-2 victory over Findlay in the bottom of the fourth inning. The first run of the inning crossed the plate when Schwanz singled down the left field line, driving in Craig. Senior Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) laced a single down the right field line that allowed Schwanz to cross the plate. The final run of the contest came in when Orr reached first on an error that brought in O'Boyle.

Junior Mike Saunders (Mt. Morris, Mich./E.A. Johnson HS) secured the win, pitching all seven innings with eight strikeouts. O'Boyle ended the contest going two-for-two and scoring twice, while Craig went one-for-two with two runs.

The Cardinals will be back in action Sunday (Apr. 1) when they continue their series against Findlay. First pitch is scheduled for noon.