DETROIT, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team swept the University of Detroit-Mercy on Sunday afternoon (3/20). The Cardinals defeated the Titans 8-0 in five innings in game one and by a score of 8-3 in the second contest. Saginaw Valley is now 13-6 overall on the season.

In game one, the Cardinals got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when junior Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) hit a solo homerun. Saginaw Valley capitalized on their hits in the top of the fifth inning when they scored seven runs on five hits. Junior Kalie Burdick (Milford, Mich.) singled through the infield, scoring Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.) from third base. Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson HS)would reach first on a fielder's choice and Kailah Happ would cross the plate to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Wellman dug in and laced a double that scored two more runs for Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals cashed-in on another fielder's choice when senior Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) reached first and made it to second on the throw, bringing in both Wellman and freshman Tori Taylor (Kitchener, Ontario)

Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) picked up the win for the Cardinals, pitching all five innings, posting 12 strikouts and allowing only two hits on the day. Wellman ended the game with two hits in as many at-bats and three runs batted in.

In game two, Saginaw Valley came out swinging, scoring two runs in the first inning when Peterson hit a homerun, scoring Wellman. The Titans would bounce back with a single run in their half of the fourth inning.

The Cardinals answered back in the sixth inning when they scored five runs. The scoring started when Burdick hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) to score.  Coffin hit a double that scored Monica Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) to give Saginaw Valley a 4-1 lead over Detroit Mercy. Wellman hit her second homerun of the day that scored three runs for the Cardinals. The Titans would once again battle back scoring two runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Saginaw Valley scored their final run of the day for the 8-3 victory when sophomore Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS) hit a sacrifice fly that brought in McKeith. Sophomore Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) started in the circle for the Cardinals, going the distance while striking-out eight and scattering three hits.

Saginaw Valley will be back in action on Friday (3/25) when they travel to Wayne State for their first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest. The double header is scheduled to start at 3:30 pm.