KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team defeated USciences, 4-1 before falling to Lees-McRae, 2-1 on day five of the 2012 Rebel Spring Games. The Cardinals are now 5-5 overall on the season.
Game 1
Sciences put the first run of the contest on the board in the top of the third inning when they scored an unearned run on a single by Erin Summers, giving them an early 1-0 advantage over the Cardinals.
Saginaw Valley tried to get something started in the bottom of the fifth inning when freshman Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp, Mich./Clinton HS) led off with a double to left center and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jill Kaltz (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS), but the Cardinals were unable to bring her in.
The Saginaw Valley offense finally struck in the bottom of the sixth inning when senior Kalie Burdick drove a double to right center that scored both Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) and Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.), giving SVSU a 2-1 lead. The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-1 on a Kaltz single to left center, allowing pinch runner Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.) and Devon Eley (Centreville, Mich.) to cross the plate.
Junior Alexa Gehrls (Caledonia, Mich.) picked up her fourth win of the season, pitching six complete innings with nine strikeouts, while Jillian Williamson (Unionville/Sebewaing, Mich.) closed out the game recording her first save of the season.
Game 2
Saginaw Valley struck first against Lees-McRae when they capitalized on an error by the Bobcat defense in the top of the third inning. Junior Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) reached first on a fielder's choice that would result in an over throw, allowing Randall to score from second.
Lees-McRae answered back in the bottom of the third when Kim Coley drove a triple down the left field line scoring the runner from third.
The Bobcats took the lead from the Cardinals in the bottom of the fourth inning when they pushed a run across the plate on a defensive error by SVSU to make the final score of 2-1.
Williamson started in the circle for Saginaw Valley, suffering her fourth loss of the season with five strikeouts and allowing an earned run.
Saginaw Valley will return to action on Thursday (Mar. 8) when they face off against California (Pa.) at 1:00 PM and have a rematch game from earlier this week against Concordia St. Paul at 3:00 PM.