XENIA, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team went into Saturday of the 2014 GLIAC Baseball Tournament with a 1-1 record, having defeated Wayne State University and losing to Lake Erie College. On the tournament's third day, the Cardinals had similar results against the same two teams. SVSU eliminated the Warriors after beating them by an 8-5 score before bowing-out of the tournament with a 13-3 loss at the hands of the Storm.
The split put Saginaw Valley's final record at 21-25 for the 2014 season.
SVSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, using a two-RBI Luke Valutis single that scored Brad Schalk and Michael Craig, who both reached on walks.
The Warriors responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead when Zach Johnson hit a three-run home run.
The Cardinals took the lead back after plating five runs in the top of the fifth inning, making the lead 7-3. Valutis had an RBI single that scored Craig and a Tyler Schwanz single allowed Schalk to cross the plate. The bases would then become loaded and Richard Guglielmi stepped to the plate. He ripped a double to left-center, bringing around Valutis, Schwanz and Dylin Eschenburg.
Wayne cut the deficit to 7-4 with a run in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, SVSU would make the lead 8-4 after Chris Perkovich followed a Guglielmi double with an RBI single to score Guglielmi from second.
The Warriors added another run in the bottom half of the seventh but that's all the home team would get as the Cards closed things out for the three run victory.
Guglielmi was 3-for-5 in the game with three RBIs. Valutis added two hits with a pair of RBIs. Craig added two hits with two walks and two runs scored.
Andrew Geese got the win on the mound, upping his record to 6-3 on the season. The lefty tossed six innings, allowing five runs on nine his while striking-out four batters.
D.J. Reetz recorded his fifth save of the season, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and registering two K's.
In the nightcap against the Storm, Lake Erie grabbed a quick 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the second inning.
SVSU scored two in the top of the third to take the 2-1 advantage. A Schalk sacrifice fly scored Connor Foley, who had an infield single to start things for the inning.
Lake Erie bounced right back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the third to grab the 3-2 lead.
The Cards would knot the score at 3-3 in the top of four, getting the run on a fielder's choice that pushed Foley, who singled, across the plate.
The Storm added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-3 advantage and would put up an eight-spot in the sixth inning to make the score 13-3.
Unfortunately, that's what the score would remain and Lake Erie eliminated the Cards with the 10-run victory.
Craig continued his outstanding play for the tournament, going 3-for-4 in the contest. Valutis had a pair of knocks with an RBI in the game while Chris Perkovich and Foley each had two hits as well.
Jeff Schalk took the loss on the mound, working 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
After a rough start to the season, Saginaw Valley had an impressive run to qualify for the 2014 GLIAC Tournament. The Cardinals will bring back a wealth of experience for next year, as the team only graduates three seniors from this year's team.
