BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team took down Ferris State University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest that was postponed earlier in the month due to bad weather. The Cardinals scored four runs in the second inning before the Bulldogs threatened by scoring two runs in the seventh inning. The 4-2 victory closed out the SV sweep over FSU.
It was a crucial victory for Saginaw Valley, as it kept them atop the GLIAC Standings with a 15-3 record. Its .833 winning percentage has them ahead of second place Ohio Dominican (18-4, .818).
Lindsay Hayward walked to lead-off the inning. Kari Knight then reached base after being hit by a pitch. Freshman Abby Stoner stepped to the plate and delieverd a single down the right field line that was deep enough to score Hayward and advance Knight to third. Macy Medina continued the hot hitting by registering the only Cardinal double of the day, scoring pinch-runner Claire Coopes-Meske. The Cards weren't satisfied with just a pair of runs though. A Deanna Stickler-Gatson single, followed by a Mackenzie Rousse sacrifice fly, scored Stoner and Medina to push the lead to 4-0 in Saginaw Valley's favor.
The score would remain that heading into the final inning of the game. The Bulldogs strung together a two-run rally in the seventh to give the Cardinals a scare, but strong defense led to SV closing out the win at 4-2.
Rousse, Stoner, Medina and Stickler-Gatson combined for the four Cardinal hits on the day.
Sophomore Sarah Appold earned the win in the circle, giving up two hits while striking out eight Bulldog batters and giving up zero earned runs. She is second in the nation in strikeouts-per-seven innings with 11.8 per game.
SVSU improves to 23-6 overall and 15-3 in the GLIAC while Ferris State falls to 13-16 on the season and 8-10 in the conference.
The Cardinals stand atop the GLIAC standings heading into the final weekend of competition. They are back in action on Friday (Apr. 25) as they return home to take on the Lake Superior State University Lakers. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 3:00 pm at the SVSU Softball Complex.