FINDLAY, Ohio - The No. 24 SVSU Softball team opened up play for the 2017 GLIAC Tournament against the Hillsdale College Chargers. The Cardinals opened play on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Hillsdale College before defeating No. 22 Wayne State University by a 4-1 count in the nightcap.

With the wins, Saginaw Valley advances to Sunday's championship series against Ashland University. It will feature a best-of-three series and the first game will be at 10:00 a.m.

Game One

The opener went scoreless into the 3rd inning, when SVSU plated a pair of runs to take the 2-0 edge. Becky Corbett walked and Madison Burgess followed with a bunt single. They would both be moved over on a Danielle Hamilton sacrifice bunt. Meredith Rousse followed to knock-in Corbett with a sacrifice fly for the first run. An errant throw from the left fielder also allowed Burgess to score for the second run.

The Chargers got a run in the top of the 5th, using an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the bottom of the 5th, an infield single with runners on first and second resulted in a run after the shortstop made a throwing error and Corbett rounded third and scored to make the count 3-1. 

SVSU halted a 7th inning scoring opportunity for Hillsdale, closing-out the game and sealing the two-run victory to set up a top-25 matchup with Wayne State in the tournament semifinals.

Inside the Boxscore

• Samantha Willman (17-6) picked up the victory in the circle in a complete game. She scattered six hits, allowing a single run and striking-out three batters.
• Rousse was 1-2 with the team's only RBI on the sac fly.
• Burgess and Hamilton each went 2-2 in the game.
• Evy Lobdell and Courtney Reeves added a hit-apiece.
• Corbett scored twice and drew two walks.

Game Two

In the top-25 matchup against the Warriors, the Cardinals got on the board when Aubree Mouthaan blasted a solo home run in the top of the 2nd inning to give SV the 1-0 lead. 

The top of the 3rd saw Hamilton slice an RBI double to left center, scoring Corbett for the 2-0 advantage.

Saginaw Valley made the lead 4-0 in the top of the 6th inning. Reeves ripped a two-RBI double down the left field line that scored Mouthaan and Rousse for the third and fourth runs.

The Warriors got on the board with their only run in the home half of the 7th, but the Cardinal defense would prevail and seal a ticket to Sunday's championship series. 

Inside the Boxscore

• Willman earned another victory in the second game, improving to 18-6 on the season in the complete game. She allowed one run on three hits, striking-out a trio of batters and walking two. 
• Mouthaan went 2-3 with the home run and one RBI, scoring two runs.
• Reeves had the big two-RBI double.
• Hamilton added the RBI double as well.
• Rousse and Lobdell each recorded a hit as well in the game versus Wayne State.

Up Next...

The Cardinals face Ashland in Sunday's best-of-three championship series, with the first game beginning at 10:00 a.m. The teams split the regular season series earlier this season at Ashland. SVSU is looking for its first tournament championship since 2009, when the Cards posted the second of back-to-back titles. 

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