CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team dropped a narrow 6-5 decision to Rockhurst University before falling 17-1 to Saint Leo University on day four of the season opening 2013 Clearwater Invitational.

Game One - Rockhurst 6, SVSU 5 - Box Score

The Cardinals trailed by four runs heading into the third inning before a string of five consecutive two-out singles brought home four runs to tie up the contest. RBI singles from Ryan Hotmer (Canton, Mich.), Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich. / Olney Central), Niko Gonzalez (Rochester, Mich. / Stoney Creek), and Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) kept the SVSU rally alive.

Saginaw Valley went on to take a 5-4 edge in the top of the fifth inning after a throwing error on the back end of an attempted double-play brought home Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) from second base.

The Hawks (3-2) fought back in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs on three hits to regain the 6-5 lead, bumping SVSU starting pitcher Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) from the game after 101 pitches.

Saginaw Valley was unable to get anything going on the offensive end in the final few innings and ultimately fell by a final score of 6-5.

Junior reliever Aaron Woods (Menominee, Mich.) came on in the sixth inning to throw 2.2 innings of one-hit baseball with two strikeouts on 40 pitches. 

Brad Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) tallied three hits in the contest, while Gonzalez posted two hits and two RBI in the loss.

Game Two - Saint Leo 17, SVSU 1 - Box Score

Saint Leo (12-6) started off the contest with a pair of runs in the first inning and added four in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the seventh to lead 10-0.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Saginaw Valley jumped on the scoreboard with a single to left center off the bat of sophomore Dennis Kan (Petoskey, Mich.) to bring home freshman Tyler Schwanz (Novi, Mich.).

The Lions ultimately went on to victory by a 17-1 final margin.

Sophomore starting hurler Jeff Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) was the pitcher of record on the mound for SVSU. Josh Tabit (Mt. Morris, Mich. / E.A. Johnson) came on in relief to pitch three solid innings giving up one earned run with two strikeouts.

The Cardinals will battle the University of Findlay tomorrow evening (March 7) at approximately 6 p.m. in a nine inning contest.