KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team swept day three of the Rebel Spring Games, defeating Bellarmine University twice. The Cardinals defeated the Knights 6-2 in both games, with game one going eight innings. Saginaw Valley is now 4-2 overall on the season.

The Cardinals fell behind 2-0 but battled back to knot the score in the top of the fourth inning. Junior Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) scored when freshman Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler HS) singled to center field. Senior Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing around senior Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.). The contest remained tied at 2 through seven innings and was forced into extra innings.

The Cardinals took the lead when Wellman singled through the left side, scoring pinch runner Tori Taylor (Kitchener, Ont./Grand River CHS). Medina added three more runs to Saginaw's lead when she hit a homerun, scoring both pinch runner Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.) and Wellman.  The Knights would be held scoreless in the bottom half, giving the Cardinals a 6-2 victory.

Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) picked up the win for Saginaw Valley, making her 2-1 on the season.  She posted 12 strikeouts and allowed only two hits. Medina ended the contest going three-for-four with four runs batted in while Wellman went two-for-four with one run batted in.

In game two, the Cardinals picked up where they left off, taking a quick 1-0 lead over the Knights. Wellman had a lead-off triple to left center field and senior Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) singled through the middle, scoring Wellman.  Junior Kalie Burdick (Milford, Mich.) doubled to center field and scored when junior Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stephenson HS) singled to right field, putting Saginaw Valley up 2-0 over the Knights. Bellarmine tied the score in the top of the fourth inning but it would not last long as the Cardinals added one more in the bottom of the inning when Coffin crossed the plate on a passed ball.

Saginaw Valley added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, giving them a 5-2 advantage when senior Monica Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) scored on a throwing error and Medina came around to score on a passed ball. The Cardinals scored their final run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth when Wellman forced an error and Burdick scored from third base.

Redshirt freshman Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) picked up her first win in a Cardinal uniform, pitching five innings and striking out three batters. Fulton got her second save of the season pitching two innings and striking out five. Burdick ended the contest going three-for-three and scoring two runs for Saginaw Valley while Coffin went two-for-three with one run and one run batted in.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Tuesday (Mar. 8) when they take on Concordia St. Paul at 9:00am and Slippery Rock at 1:00pm.