FINDLAY, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team swept the University of Findlay Oilers Sunday afternoon (Mar. 27). The Cardinals defeated the Oilers 5-0 in game one and 9-6 in game two. SVSU is now 15-8 overall on the season and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

The Cardinals took a quick lead in game one, scoring one run when senior Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) laid down a scarifice bunt that brought in junior Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson HS). Saginaw Valley took a 4-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning when it scored three runs. Sophomore Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS) singled to left field, scoring Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.). The Cardinals would score two more runs on back-to-back singles by junior Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) and Peterson.

Peterson collected her third run batted in of the day when she laced a single to center field, bringing in Coffin for the 5-0 victory. Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) got the start in circle, posting 12 strikouts and allowing only four hits.

In game two, Findlay got on the scoreboard first, scoring in the first inning and keeping the score at 1-0 until the third inning. The Cardinals again had back-to-back singles by Wellman and Peterson that gave SVSU the 3-1 advantage. The Oilers took the lead back in the top of the fourth inning when they scored three runs on three hits.

Saginaw Valley knotted the score in the fifth inning when senior Monica Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought in pinch runner Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.). The lead would yet again be taken by Findlay in the top of the sixth inning when it scored two runs, but Saginaw Valley sealed the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring five runs on six hits.

Coffin had a three run home run that brought in Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) and Happ. Freshman Marcy Medina (Valpairaso, Mich.) doubled to left field, scoring Peterson for the 8-6 lead. The final run of the contest came when Gathright singled to the shortstop, scoring Medina for the 9-6 victory.

Sophomore Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) got the start in the circle pitching 3.1 innings, while Fulton came on in relief, pitching 3.2 innings and picking up the win for the Cardinals.

Saginaw Valley will be back in action when it plays the re-scheduled contests against Wayne State on Tuesday (Apr. 3). The double-header is scheduled for 3:30 pm.