UNIVERSITY CENTER - The SVSU softball team hosted Ashland University on Friday afternoon in a GLIAC doubleheader at the SVSU Softball Complex. After dropping the first game by a score of 4-1, the Cardinals held on for a close 7-6 win in the nightcap over the Eagles.

With the split, SVSU moves to 28-14 overall on the season with a 12-10 mark in the GLIAC while the Eagles now stand at 23-19-1 and 13-8-1 in league action.

Game One

Saginaw Valley got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning, scoring a single run to take a 1-0 advantage. Bethaney Murphey had an RBI single that plated Shelby Weeks for the run.

The Eagles responded with an RBI double and two-run home run in the top of the fourth to take the lead with the score 3-1. The visitors added another in the sixth to make the score 4-1. 

That's where the score would remain throughout, with Ashland grabbing the first game.

Inside the Boxscore

• Sarah Vrabel had two of SVSU's four hits in the opener. 
• Murphey had a hit, walk and the team's only RBI.
• Madison Burgess had the other hit and walked once as well. 
• Samantha Willman (6-4) took the loss in the circle. She allowed four runs on just four hits, walking four and notching three strikeouts.

Game Two

The Cardinals brought their sticks in the second game, scoring three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to hold a 5-1 edge over the visitors. Danielle Hamilton had an RBI single in the third and Meredith Rousse added a two-run home run that cleared the center field fence. The fourth saw Weeks score when the pitcher threw to first on a groundout and another Hamilton RBI single that pushed pinch-runner Claire Coopes-Meske across the plate.

Ashland tightened the deficit after scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the sixth to make the score 5-4.

Saginaw Valley would get some much needed insurance in the top half of the seventh inning when Weeks dug-in with two outs and hit a long home run well over the left field fence to score pinch-runner Becky Corbett for the 7-4 lead.

The Eagles would not go away without a fight, however, as they scored twice to make the score 7-6 with not outs.

That's when Annie Hansen came into a first and second situation with no outs and halted the Eagles in their path. She posted a strikeout and drew a  pair of groundouts to second base to seal the 7-6 win for the Cards.

Inside the Boxscore

• Weeks's game-winning home run was one of her two hits, as she had two RBIs and scored twice as well. She now has nine home runs on the season, marking a career-high and that figure is tied for the GLIAC lead.
• Hamilton was 4-for-4 in the contest and knocked-in a pair with a run scored.
• Murphey went 2-for-4 for the Cardinals in the nightcap.
• Sarah Appold (8-6) got the victory after her start. She allowed 11 hits six runs (4 earned) and walked four while striking-out seven batters.
• Hansen picked-up her first career save, working the final inning and blanking the opponents with a strikeout.
• SVSU tied a season-high with 13 hits, a total they have collected three times this season. 

Up Next...

The Cardinals host the Lake Erie Storm on Saturday (Apr. 23) in another GLIAC doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at the SVSU Softball Compelx. 

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