UNIVERSITY CENTER -- SVSU Baseball continued on with league play on Friday as the Cardinals started a four-game weekend series with Walsh University. The Cardinals were defeated 9-0 in Game 1 of the series. SVSU closed out the doubleheader with a 12-10 victory over the Cavaliers, earning the split for the twinbill.

Game One

Walsh struck first on the scoreboard to open up Game 1 of the series. The Cavaliers jumped ahead 3-0 with a line drive home run that caromed off the left field foul pole in the top of the 2nd inning. 

After being held scoreless in the third inning, Walsh added to its lead in the top of the 4th with an RBI double. Trailing by four runs, the Cardinals put two runners on with two outs in the bottom frame but did not cut into the four-run deficit. 

The Cavaliers continued to swing well heading into the fifth inning by scoring two runs in the fifth and then again in the sixth inning. Walsh went on to score three runs in the frame, as a wild pitch and two-RBI triple gave them a 9-0 lead with one inning remaining. 

Saginaw Valley dropped Game 1 to Walsh by a final score of 9-0

Inside the Boxscore

• Adam Fitzgibbon notched a multi-hit game for the Cardinals, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate from the leadoff spot. 
• Chad Carson went 1-for-3 in the batter's box as well.  
• Brendan Harrison and Mason Schwellenbach also recorded base hits.  

On the Mound

• Amani Godfrey (L, 2-2) got the start in Game 1 for the Cardinals. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine base hits with one walk and six strikeouts. 
• Austin Koin came in for Godfrey in the sixth inning. He went 1.0 inning in relief, giving up three runs on one hit, walked one and struck out two. 
• Camden Dice pitched a scoreless seventh inning and struck out one. 

Game Two 

The Cavaliers extended the strong swings into the nightcap and took the the 2-0 lead on SVSU with a deep home run to center field.

Saginaw Valley cut into the deficit in the bottom half as Adam Fitzgibbon connected on a solo home run, his sixth of the season. Walsh then regained its two-run cushion on SVSU, as the Cavaliers scored a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second. 

In the bottom of the second inning, the Cardinals grabbed its first lead of the doubleheader with a double from Jordan Swiss. He scored Gerrit Eding and cut the deficit to 3-2. Swiss was brought home on the next at-bat, as Jason Clark roped a double into left field to knot the game up at three. Clark gave the Cardinals the 4-3 edge as Fitzgibbon reached second base with the team's third straight run-scoring double. 

Walsh got a run in the fourth inning and tied the contest at 4-4 heading into the bottom half. The tie was short-lived, as SVSU went up by one once again with a sacrifice fly RBI from Nate Blackwell. 

Blackwell brought in the Cardinals' next run in the fifth inning, scoring Gerrit Eding with a single to left center to make the score 6-4.

The two-run lead was broken up in the following frame, as Walsh hit a two-run home run to tie the contest at 6-6. Saginaw Valley broke the stalemate once again in the bottom half, scoring two runs off an opposite field double from Cole Brooks. He would then cross home and score for SVSU on a stolen base at home plate. 

Saginaw Valley ended the sixth inning with a 9-6 lead on Walsh. The lead was slashed to just one in the eighth inning as the Cavaliers scored a single run in the seventh and eighth. The Cardinals would not let up on Walsh and scored two runs off a throwing error to go ahead 11-8. Brendan Harrison advanced to third on the play and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Jordan Swiss. 

Tyler Stambaugh entered the game in the top of the ninth inning to close out the nightcap for the Cardinals, who were now leading by four runs. Stambaugh would allow Walsh to add on two runs but thwarted the comeback. 

Saginaw Valley closed out the nightcap with a 12-10 victory over Walsh, earning the split over the Cavaliers. 

Inside the Boxscore

• The Cardinals registered 12 runs on 16 total base hits. Every starter notched at least one base hit. 
• Cole Brooks reached base safely in all five plate appearances. He went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and 2 RBI. He also scored three runs and walked once. 
• Adam Fitzgibbon also recorded a three-hit game for the Cardinals. He scored a run on his lead-off home run and went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI.
• Jordan Swiss ended the contest with two hits, two RBI, one walk and a run scored. 
• Gerrit Eding and Chad Carson each added a pair of hits for the Cardinals. 

On the Mound

• Scott Sency (W, 3-5) earned the win for SVSU and got the start. He pitched 6.2 innings and allowed seven runs on 11 hits with no walks and five strikeouts. 
• Jake Tarbell entered the contest in relief of Sency. He went 1.1 innings and limited the damage to just one run on two base hits.
• Tyler Stambaugh closed out the ninth inning for the Cardinals. He allowed two runs on three hits and walked one in his one inning of work. 

Up Next...

The same two teams wrap up the four-game set with a doubleheader at the SVSU Baseball Complex on Saturday (Apr. 29). First pitch is set for Noon. 

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