MIDLAND, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split with Northwood University today (Apr. 22) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest. The Cardinals fell 1-0 in game one and defeated the Timberwolves 4-1 in game two.

The Timberwolves scored the lone run of game one in the bottom of the second inning for the 1-0 victory over the Cardinals. Freshman Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler HS) went two-for-three on the game; while Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich. / Anchor Bay HS) had Saginaw Valley's only other hit of the contest. Senior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) suffered the loss having 12 strikeouts and only two walks in six innings pitched.

In game two, the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead over Northwood when Medina reached first on a fielder's choice allowing Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stephenson HS) scored from third base. The Timberwolves tied the score in the top of the second inning, but Saginaw Valley would take the lead back for good in the bottom of the inning. The Cardinals scored when Coffin singled to left center scoring Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich. / Kettering HS) for the 2-1 advantage. 

Saginaw Valley added a run in the bottom of the third inning when Wellman singled up the middle scoring Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.), going up 3-1 over the Timberwolves. The Cardinals tacked on one final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when pinch runner Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.) scored on a Wellman single to right center field for the 4-1 win.

Sophomore Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) started the game, while Fulton pitched the final five innings for Saginaw Valley to pick up her 19th win on the season.  She would end the afternoon with a combined 18 strikeouts.

With the split Saginaw Valley moves to 30-12 overall on the season, and 17-6 in the GLIAC, while Northwood moves to 19-16-1 overall on the season, and 13-10-1 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals will be back in action Saturday (Apr. 23) when they again travel to Northwood University. The double header is scheduled for 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.