UNIVERCITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split with the Cavaliers of Walsh University Sunday (Apr. 12) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader. Saginaw Valley fell in a battle for game one by a score of 3-2 before taking game two by an 8-4 score.
Game 1
The Cardinals were the first to get on the board in the bottom of the second inning when senior Marcy Medina knocked a solo home run over the right field fence to put her team up 1-0.
With neither team able start up a rally in the first half of the game, it wasn't until the fourth and fifth innings that Walsh fought back, scoring one run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the 3-1 edge.
Other than a double by Amanda Kimes in the fifth, the Cardinals were unable to get their offense going again until Medina picked up another solo home run, this time out to left field to notch her second RBI of the day in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That's all the scoring the Cards would have, as they would fall by that 3-2 final score.
Taking the loss in the circle was Sarah Appold (4-7), who threw all seven innings. She allowed eight hits and three runs while striking out nine.
Medina had two of SVSU's four total hits with the only two RBIs and runs scored.
Game 2
SVSU began game two much like the first, this time with Shelby Weeks knocking a three-run home run over the center field fence to knock-in teammates DeAnna Stickler-Gatson, who reached on a single, and Kimes, who reached on a walk.
The Cavaliers fought back in the bottom of the second to cut the Cardinal lead to 3-2.
That is where the score stood until the top of the fifth inning when Saginaw Valley fired-up the bats once again for a three-run inning. Evy Lobdell got things going with a single through the left side that was followed by a single from Medina before pinch-hitter Jessica Wood knocked both of them in for a two-RBI double. Right behind her was Chelsea Adcock with an RBI single down the right field line to increase the Cardinal lead to 6-2.
Walsh answered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth, but that wasn't enough as SV was able to pick up two more runs in the top of the sixth as Lobdell managed a two-RBI double to make the final score 8-4.
Leading the offense in game two was Lobdell with three hits and two RBIs and Weeks with the big three-run home run. Wood had a two-run double as well for the Cards.
Pcking up the win in the circle was Sarah Vrabel, who improved to 5-5 on the season after pitching all seven innings. She scattered eight hits and four runs, just two of them being earned. Vrabel also struck out two and walked three on the evening.
With the split, the Cardinals improve to 16-15 overall and 6-4 in conference play while Walsh's record moves to 14-7 overall and 9-4 in GLIAC play.
Saginaw Valley will return to action this Wednesday (Apr. 15) to face conference opponent Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. for doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.