The Basics

Game 1: Minnesota-Duluth 7, Saginaw Valley 3
Game 2: Saginaw Valley 4, Southern Indiana 3 (8 Innings)
Hancock Park - Clermont, Fla.

CLERMONT, Fla. - The SVSU softball team posted a split for the second consecutive day at the Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Cardinals bounced back from an early 7-3 morning defeat at the hands of Minnesota-Duluth to post a 4-3 extra-innings victory over Southern Indiana in the nightcap.

Game One

The Bulldogs got out to a 4-0 lead after putting up all four runs in the top of the third inning. They would extend that lead out to 7-0 after the top of the sixth inning after adding single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

SVSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the sixth frame, using an RBI double off the left field fence by Shelby Weeks that scored Danielle Hamilton and a Meredith Rousse single through the middle that plated Weeks. That made the score 7-2.

After setting Minnesota-Duluth down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, SVSU had pinch-hitter Jessica Wood reach base on a walk and Lauren Bachert would pinch run for her. Madison Burgess would follow with a single, putting runners on first and second for the Cards. Hamilton was due next and she hit a slow grounder to second and reached on a fielder's choice when the defense got Burgess at second. Bachert was rounding third already and would score the team's third run when the second baseman forced for the out at second.

That would be all the scoring for the game though, as the Bulldogs came away with the 7-3 victory.

Inside the Boxscore

• Burgess had two of SVSU's four hits in the contest.
• Weeks and Rousse had the other two, each adding an RBI and Weeks a walk and run scored as well. 
• Hamilton had an RBI, walk and run scored for SVSU. 
• SVSU allowed just 10 hits but walked 10 batters and committed six errors defensively.
• Annie Hansen (0-1) took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on four hits, walking five and striking-out one in her 3.1 innings pitched.

Game Two

The game started quickly, with both teams scoreless through the first innings.

SVSU got on the board first, as Aubree Mouthaan provided some instant offense with a solo home run over the left center fence to give the Cards a 1-0 edge in the game. 

That lead held true until the bottom of the sixth, when the Screaming Eagles notched three runs to take a 3-1 lead heading into the final inning. 

The Cardinals would come up big in their half of the seventh, though. Becky Corbett began the frame with an infield single that was just out of the reach of the second baseman and Burgess followed with a slow-rolling infield single to the third baseman, whose only play was to second, where Corbett slid in safely to set up the opportunity. The runners would move up on a Hamilton sac bunt, setting up second and third with one out. Rousse dug-in next and ripped the first pitch she saw for a double to left-center, knotting the score at 2-2 when she scored Corbett and Burgess.

A single, throwing error and intentional walk, however, put the Cards in a bind with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Starting pitcher Sarah Appold would hold strong though, forcing a weak pop-up foul to first base, an infield fly to second base and a groundout to herself to keep the game tied and head to extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, Mouthaan was placed on second. She was moved to third on a Bachert sacrifice bunt and was promptly driven-in off a Bethaney Murphey single to center field, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 edge.

The score stayed there in the bottom of the eighth for USI and their first batter popped-up a sac bunt attempt for the first out. Their next two batters grounded out to shortstop and the pitcher, respectively, and the game ended with SVSU posting the 4-3 victory.

Inside the Boxscore

• Burgess had two more hits for SVSU in the game with a run scored. 
• Rousse was 1-for-3 with the big two-RBI double and a walk.
• Mouthaan had the solo home run for her only hit and Murphey had the game-winner in the top of the eighth. It was Mouthaan's first career long ball. Murphey's hit was also her first in an SVSU uniform.
• SVSU had nine hits in the victory.
• Appold (1-2) picked up her first win in the circle for the Cards. She worked all eight innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three runs while walking five and striking-out eight batters.
• Weeks had the third extra-base hit for SV, connecting on a double in the game.

Up Next

Saginaw Valley (2-4) will return to the diamond for another 9:00 a.m. start on Wednesday (Mar. 9) against Stonehill before following up that contest with an 11:00 a.m. matchup with Shippensburg. The games will be played at Legends Way #5.

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