UNIVERSITY CENTER -- The Cardinal Baseball team hosted #15 Ashland University in a single nine-inning game to kick-off weekend play between the top two teams in the GLIAC. In what was a close game throughout, SVSU eventually dropped the contest by a 4-1 final score in the nine-inning affair.
With the loss, the Cards fall to 12-10-1 overall on the season and 6-2-1 in the GLIAC. Ashland improves to 24-3 overall and 8-0 in league action.
The Eagles got on the board in the top of the 2nd inning with a single run to take the 1-0 edge.
Saginaw Valley answered to tie the game at 1-1 in the home half of the 5th inning, using an Andrew Burke RBI single through the right side to push across pinch-runner Logan Russo.
Ashland got another run in the top of the 6th on an RBI single and added one in the top of the 7th on a double steal, where the runner scored after a collision near the plate.
The visitors added a solo home run in the 9th inning, pushing their lead out to 4-1, which would prove to be the final.
The Cardinals had guys in scoring position several times in the later inning but were held to just two hits in the contest. Burke's RBI single was one and Austin Koin added a base knock of his own. Jordan Swiss walked twice while Anthony Kania and Gerrit Eding each drew a base on balls.
Amani Godfrey (2-3) got the start for Saginaw Valley, working 6.2 innings while allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck-out seven batters and walked zero.
Up Next...
The Cardinals and Eagles return to the SVSU Baseball Complex on Saturday (Apr. 6) for a doubleheader, which begins at 12:35 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests.
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