KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team went 1-2 on day seven of the Rebel Spring Games. The Cardinals defeated Shippensburg 5-0 in game one for their eighth straight win. The streak was snapped in game two of the day when they fell to Wisconsin-Parkside 6-5 before falling in a make-up game with California (Pa.), 4-2, in their third contest of the afternoon. Saginaw Valley is now 9-4 overall on the season.
Junior Kalie Burdick (Milford, Mich.) led off the second inning with a solo homerun over the left center field fence to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead over Shippensburg. Saginaw Valley extended its lead to two in the top of the fourth when junior Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) singled to center field to bring around Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stephenson HS).
The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when freshman Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler HS) hit a homerun over the right center field fence, scoring senior Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.). Saginaw Valley added a final run to give them a 5-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning off a fielding error by Shippensburg.
Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) started in the circle, pitching six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks for the Cardinals. Saginaw Valley scored five runs on nine hits.
In game two, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead over Wisconsin-Parkside in the bottom of the first inning. SVSU got on the board when Jordan reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Wellman to score from third base. Saginaw Valley took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Coffin reached on a bunt single that allowed senior Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) to score from third base. The Cardinals had back-to-back doubles when freshman Tori Taylor (Kitchener, Ont. /Grand River CHS) lined one to left center, scoring Coffin, and senior Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) followed suit with one down the left field line to bring in Taylor.
Wisconsin-Parkside battled back in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs on three hits to make the score 4-3. The Rangers tacked on three more runs, taking a two run lead over Saginaw Valley in the top of the fourth inning. The Cardinals scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Taylor got her third hit of the game and brought around sophomore Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS). Saginaw Valley would not be able to score again, as they would suffer a 6-5 loss to Wisconsin-Parkside.
Sophomore Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) started for Saginaw Valley, pitching 2.2 innings while redshirt freshman Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Henry Ford II) suffered the loss for the Cardinals, making her 1-1 on the season. Fulton came in and pitched the final 3.1 innings for Saginaw Valley with seven strikeouts.
In game three, the Cardinals fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning to California (Pa.). Saginaw Valley scored its first run in the top of the fifth inning off a single from redshirt freshman Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.) that scored Jordan. Later that inning Taylor helped the Cardinals come within one run of the Vulcans when she singled McKeith home. California (Pa) answered back, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 4-2.
Saginaw Valley fought back in the seventh inning when it scored one run off a Taylor sacrifice fly to right field, but would be unable to add anymore as they fell to the Vulcans by a score of 4-3. Fulton pitched all six innings for Saginaw Valley, recording five strikeouts and issuing only one walk, making her 5-2 overall on the season.
The Cardinals will be back in action for their last day of the Rebel Spring Games on Saturday (Mar. 12) when they take on Concordia St. Paul at 9:00 AM and Southwest Minnesota State at 11:00 AM.