UNIVERSITY CENTER - Playing in a Sunday GLIAC doubleheader at the SVSU Softball Complex, the SVSU softball team posted a split with the Hillsdale College Chargers in a battle between the top two teams in the league. The Cardinals fell in the opener by an 11-3 count before bouncing-back for a 9-4 victory in the nightcap.
Game One
After a scoreless first inning, Hillsdale scored nine runs in the top of the 2nd to take the lead, aided by five hits and a pair of Cardinal errors. The Chargers added another single run in the top of the 4th, making the lead 10-0.
SVSU got on the board in the bottom half of the 4th, going for three runs to cut the deficit to 10-3. Courtney Reeves knocked-in Meredith Rousse for the first run. Mikayla Alexandrou later stepped to the plate, drilling a pinch-hit home run to right center, scoring Reeves as well.
The Chargers added a single run in the visitor half of the 7th, pushing the score to 11-3, which is where it remained as the final.
Inside the Boxscore
- Alexandrou's home run was the first of her career. She finished 1-2 with the two RBI and one run scored.
- Reeves was 1-3 with an RBI and run scored.
- Danielle Hamilton collected two hits, drawing a walk as well.
- Anna Conard had the fifth hit for SVSU.
- Rousse had the only steal on the base paths as well and scored a run.
In the Circle
- Conard (6-2) took the loss in the circle, allowing five hits and eight runs (4 ER) in her 1.0 + inning of work.
- Annie Hansen (2.0), Hannah Atwell (1.0) and Emily Osteen (3.0) all worked in relief for Saginaw Valley, allowing a single run each.
Game Two
After Hillsdale grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st, the Cardinals rebounded to post a six-spot in the top of the 3rd to take the lead at 6-2. An Evy Lobdell RBI double scored Lauren Bachert, who had a leadoff double and moved to third on a Hamilton sacrifice bunt. Conard then knocked-in Rousse for the second run. That was followed by a Breanna Dinsmoore two-RBI double, which scored Conard and Aubree Mouthaan to make it 4-2. Kennedi Thomas finished the inning's scoring by driving-in Dinsmoore and Becky Corbett with a single to push the lead out to 6-2.
The Chargers added two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd, drawing the game closer with a 6-4 score.
Rousse had an RBI double in the top of the 4th to score Hamilton, and that was followed by a Conard RBI single that pushed Rousse across the plate for an 8-4 edge.
The final run of the game came in the top of the 5th, as Lobdell added an RBI infield single that scored Bachert. That helped secure the 9-4 win over the Chargers.
Inside the Boxscore
- Five of SVSU's 13 hits in game two were doubles.
- Bachert had two of those, going 2-4 with two runs scored as well.
- Rousse went 3-4 with a double, RBI and pair of runs.
- Hamilton had three hits in her three plate appearances, adding a run and double.
- Conard was 2-3 with two RBI and a run.
- Thomas had a hit and two RBI.
- Dinsmoore posted a double, two RBI and run scored.
- Lobdell had two RBI as well, going 1-3 in the game.
- Rousse had a stolen base in game two as well.
In the Circle
- Samantha Willman improved to 11-5 overall on the season after the complete game victory. She allowed five hits, four runs (2 ER) and struck-out four in the 7.0 innings pitched. She didn't surrender a walk in the game.
Up Next...
The Cardinals are now 22-9 overall and lead the GLIAC by a game over Hillsdale. SVSU is back in action on Tuesday (Apr. 11) against Concordia (Mich.) in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at the SVSU Softball Complex.
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