EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The SVSU Softball team, ranked #22 nationally, played the #9-ranked University of Southern Indiana in the finals of the Midwest Regional #2 Tournament on Saturday (May 13) afternoon. In what was the teams' third meeting of the season, the Screaming Eagles got out to an early lead and would hold on throughout, claiming a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals.
The win puts Southern Indiana in the 2017 NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regionals, where they will face the winner of the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Wayne State University.
Saginaw Valley finishes its fantastic 2017 campaign with a 37-16 overall mark after advancing to the program's first sub regional finals since the 2011 season.
Southern Indiana got on the board early on in the top of the 1st, using four walks and an RBI single to score a pair of runs and take the 2-0 advantage. A two-RBI single would follow, tacking-on another two runs to make the score 4-0.
The Screaming Eagles added another three runs in the top of the 3rd inning, pushing the lead out to 7-0.
Aubree Mouthaan got the Cardinals on the board in the home half of the 4th, lacing a home run over the left center fence to cut the SVSU deficit to 7-1.
Courtney Reeves went deep for Saginaw Valley is well, taking a 2-0 pitch to deep left center for her 15th home run of the season. That solo shot cut the Southern Indiana deficit to 7-2 and sent the game into the 7th inning.
That's where the score remained, as USI closed-out defensively in the bottom of the 7th and sealed its trip to the super regionals.
Inside the Boxscore
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Mouthaan had a solo home run for the Cardinals, notching her 11th of the season. It was her 44th RBI of the season as well.
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Reeves added to her single season home run mark again, hitting her 15th of the season for Saginaw Valley. The NFCA First Team All-Region honoree finished tied with Mouthaan for the team lead with 44 RBI.
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Burgess collected a pair of hits in the contest.
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Danielle Hamilton added an infield single and walk.
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Lauren Bachert had the other hit for the Cards against the Eagles.
In the Circle
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Samantha Willman (21-8) took the loss in the contest after giving up four runs in the start.
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Annie Hansen worked 2.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs.
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Emily Osteen was great for SVSU in relief against USI. The freshman tossed a career-high 4.0 innings of scoreless relief. She allowed just three hits with a strikeout and two walks.
Up Next...
The Cardinals finish the 2017 season with an overall record of 37-16, marking the most wins since the 2011 season when SVSU advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series. Saginaw Valley notched its third straight 30-win season and the 2017 GLIAC Softball Tournament title as well. The program graduates just two seniors, as pitchers Samantha Willman and Annie Hansen depart after their careers in a Cardinal uniform.
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