UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's softball team picked up a sweep today (Apr. 21) over Malone University on Senior Day. The Cardinals would claim a 8-0 (5 innings) victory in game one and a 3-0 win in game two.
Game 1 vs. Malone - Box Score
After two scoreless innings the Saginaw Valley bats would come alive in the bottom of the third as they scored five runs on two hits. Senior Katie Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) would lead off the inning with a walk and would advance to second on a single by Kaitlyn McBride (Brampton, Ont./St. Thomas Aquinas HS). After an errant throw on a stolen base attempt that allowed Smith to cross the plate, senior Samantha Sutton (Armada, Mich.) laced a single up the middle to plate McBride.
Sutton would score later in the inning on a Jenna Holmes (Jenison, Mich.) double to right center to make the score 3-0. Lindsay Hayward (Ancaster, Ont.) would add the final two runs on the inning on a two-run homer to left field.
The Cardinals would add another run in the bottom of the fourth when Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.) scored on a sacrafice fly by Suotton to center field.
Hayward would lead off the bottom of the fifth for the Cardinals with a walk to set the stage for a Senior Day two run homer from Kailah Happ (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) to invoke the run rule and end the game.
Jillian Williamson (Sebwaing, Mich/USA HS) picked up the win for the Cardinals in the circle to record her fifth win of the season. She struck out two batters in the complete game one-hitter against the Pioneers.
Game 2 vs. Malone - Box Score
Amanda Kimes (Caledonia, Mich.) would get things started for the Cardinals in the top of the second when she ripped a two RBI single through the left side to score Kari Knight (Walled Lake, Mich./Norther HS) and Chelsea Adcock (Pinconning, Mich.). Adcock would reach earlier in the inning on a single to the pitcher, while Knight reached on a deep double to left center.
Kimes would give Saginaw Valley an insurence run in the top of the seventh when she led off the inning with a homerun to left center field for the 3-0 advantage.
Freshman Sarah Appold (Bay City, Mich/Valley Lutheran HS) would record her third win of the season as she threw the complete game four hitter. She also recorded eight strikeouts on the afternoon.
With the wins, Saginaw Valley improves to 12-18 on the season and 8-8 in the GLIAC, while Malone falls to 8-25 overall and 2-20 in the conference. The Cardinals will return to action at home on Tuesday when they welcome Ashland University to campus for a doubleheader. Game one is slated to start at 3pm with the second game to follow immediately after.