COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team took 2-of-3 to win the weekend series Saturday (March 30) on the road at Ohio Dominican University.
Game One - SVSU 8, ODU 3 - Box Score
The contest remained scoreless through the first two innings of action before the Cardinals (4-12, 2-4 GLIAC) rallied with two-outs in the third to put up a 5-spot for the early advantage on the road. RBI singles from both Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) and Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) put SVSU ahead 2-0. Saginaw Valley tacked on a third run thanks to a throwing error by the ODU (9-13, 5-3 GLIAC) pitcher after a failed pickoff attempt plated Kyle O'Boyle from third.
The two-out rally was capped off by senior catcher Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich.) who laced a 2-RBI single to right field, scoring both Orr and Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) to put the Cardinals up by a 5-0 margin.
After Ohio Dominican slashed the SVSU lead to 5-2, Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich. / Bullock Creek) responded with an RBI triple to right center field. The three-bagger was the fifth of O'Boyle career and scored Michael Craig. Two batters later, Chris Perkovich made a successful squeeze play with a bunt to bring home O'Boyle.
Freshman Brendon Hayes (Livonia, Mich. / Livonia Stevenson) finished the sixth inning rally as he lined a single through the right side. Andy Orr came around to score pushing the Cardinal lead to 8-2 and ultimately going on to victory by final score of 8-3.
Junior starting pitcher Andrew Geese (Saginaw, Mich. / Carrolton / Adrian) completed 4 1/3 innings (71 pitches / 43 strikes) of work to pick up his first victory of the year allowing six hits and two earned runs along with one strikeout. Aaron Woods (Menominee, Mich.) came on in relief to throw 2 2/3 innings (72 pitches) giving up one run with four strikeouts.
Michael Craig led the SVSU offense going 3-for-4 with two runs scores, while Kyle O'Boyle went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored. Saginaw Valley recorded double-digit hits for the second consecutive contest and fourth time this season.
Game Two - ODU 14, SVSU 2 - Box Score
Saginaw Valley fell behind early after Ohio Dominican put up six runs in the second inning, then added one in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 10-0 lead.
The Cardinals managed to score twice in the sixth when Andy Orr capitalized on a throwing error by the ODU pitcher, followed by an RBI single off the bat of Chet LaFave.
SVSU tied a season high with five errors as they ultimately fell to the Panthers by a 14-2 margin.
Sophomore Brad Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) led the SVSU offense by going 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot for the Cardinals. The three-hit performance for Brad is the second of his young career at SVSU.
SVSU Baseball will return home for their long-awaited home opener on Tuesday (April 2) against Findlay at 2:00 p.m. for a doubleheader.