Posted: Mar 03, 2013
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team earned a split on day two of the Rebel Spring games. The Cardinals pulled out a 5-4 walkoff victory in the in the bottom of the seventh inning before suffering a loss to Northern State University in game two.
Game One vs. Notre Dame College – Box Score
Saginaw Valley took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning when Mackenzie Rousse (Bay City, Mich./Western HS) was awarded home plate on an illegal pitch. Rousse sent a one-out rope down the left field line to reach base earlier in the inning.
The Falcons would rally to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the inning after Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) crossed the plate via a wild pitch. Hayward led off the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Marcy Medina (Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler HS).
Notre Dame College would score three in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 advantage over SVSU.
Saginaw Valley entered the bottom of the seventh trailing the Falcons 4-2. Pinch hitter Kari Knight (Walled Lake, Mich. / Northern HS) led off the inning with a walk and was joined on base by Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) who reached via a fielding error on a bunt attempt. Rousse would single to third to load the bases for Jordan Randall (Clinton Twp, Mich.) who then laced a two RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 4-4. That would set the plate once again for Hayward who ripped a single through the left side to score Rousse and give the Cardinals the 5-4 victory.
Sarah Vrabel (Canfield, Ohio) got the start in the circle for the Cardinals, striking out two batters and allowing four runs in the effort, while freshman Sarah Appold (Bay City, Mich./Valley Lutheran HS) notched her first career win in relief.
Game Two vs. Northern State University – Box Score
Randall would give the Cardinals an early lead after reaching on a fielders choice. A Northern State error on a Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) grounder allowed Randall to cross the plate and give the Cardinals the 1-0 advantage. The Wolves would respond in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1 after two costly SVSU errors.
Saginaw Valley would go back on top in their half of the third inning when Rousse scored on a Randall ground out to the short stop for the 2-1 advantage.
The Wolves would gain some offensive momentum in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs to push starter Jillian Williamson (Unionville/Sebewaing, Mich. / Unionville Sebewaing Area HS) from the game. Williamson finished the game with four strikeouts in three innings of work.
Northern State would add four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go up 10-2 and enforce the run rule.
The Cardinals will return to action on Monday (Mar. 4) when the play Northern State and Holy Family.