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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