KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split day two of the Rebel Spring Games falling to Minnesota State-Mankato, 5-1 and defeating #24 Lewis 8-5. With the split the Cardinals are now 2-2 overall on the season.
Saginaw Valley put their only run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when pinch hitter Monica Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring freshman Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler HS) from third base. The lone run would not be enough as Minnesota State-Mankato defeated the Cardinals, 5-1.
Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) took the loss, making her 1-1 on the season. Senior Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) went two-for-three, while sophomore Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Waterford Kettering HS) went one-for-two with a double in the contest.
In game two, the Cardinals took a quick lead over Lewis in the first inning when senior Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) laid down a sacrifice bunt scoring senior Kimberly Sills (Clinton Twp., Chippewa HS). Saginaw Valley scored again in the top of the third inning when Medina singled to right field and both Peterson and Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) came around to score. Lewis took the lead in the third inning scoring four runs on four hits and one error.
Saginaw Valley answered back in the top of the fifth inning scoring three runs on three hits. Medina had her third run batted in on the game when she singled to left center scoring Wellman. Gathright reached first on a throwing error bringing around both senior Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) and Medina giving them a 6-4 advantage over the Flyers.
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth when Sills doubled to center scoring Jordan and Wellman doubled down the left field line scoring Sills. Lewis added one more run in the bottom of the seventh making the final score 8-5.
Sophomore Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) got the win, making her 1-1 on the season pitching 4.1 innings with three strikeouts, while Fulton pitched 2.2 innings in relief, to pick-up her first save of the season.
Wellman ended the game going three-for-four with one run batted in while Peterson went two-for-three for Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals scored eight runs on 11 hits against Lewis.
The Cardinals will be back in action on Monday (Mar. 7) when they take on Bellarmine University in a double-header. Game time is scheduled for 3:00pm and 5:00pm.