UNIVERSITY CENTER -- In what is a busy week of GLIAC Softball, the SVSU Softball team hosted the Ashland Eagles on Wednesday (Apr. 25) afternoon at the SVSU Softball Complex. The Cardinals claimed the opener by a 2-0 margin before falling by a 5-4 score in the second game despite being just one out away from a sweep.
The Cardinals are now 20-20 overall on the season and 11-11 in the GLIAC. Ashland now sits at 19-21 and 9-13 in league action.
Game 1
SV got on the board in the 1st when Danielle Hamilton singled, stole second and was brought home by a Courtney Reeves double to give the home squad a 1-0 lead.
The next and final run of the contest came in the bottom of the 4th, as Evy Lobdell drilled a solo home run to left field to push the lead to 2-0.
Starting pitcher Elayne Young would hold the visitors there at zero, finishing-off the Eagles for the complete game victory to move to 3-2 on the season. She allowed just two hits and struck-out a pair of batters with three walks in the shutout.
Reeves and Lobdell had the two RBI for the Cardinals on the double and home run, respectively. Hamilton and Lauren Bachert each registered two hits in the opener with a stolen base.
Game 2
Saginaw Valley got out to an early lead in the 1st again, going for three runs to take the 3-0 edge. On a Hamilton bunt single, Bachert would move to third and score on a throwing error for the first run. The next two came when Reeves blasted a deep home run to center field, scoring Hamilton with her 11th long ball of the season.
Ashland picked-away with single runs in the top of the 2nd, 3rd and 6th innings, respectively, knotting the score at 3-3 heading into the home half of the 6th.
The Cardinals re-gained the lead in that half as Reeves collected her third RBI of the game on an RBI double that plated Meredith Rousse, making the score 4-3.
The Eagles were set down 1-2 quickly in the top of the 7th and the Cards were just a single out away from the victory and sweep. Ashland, however, was able to go for a pair of runs and take a 5-4 lead heading to the bottom of the 7th.
AU set the home team down in four batters, coming away with the 5-4 game two victory.
Reeves had a big nightcap, going 2-3 with a home run, double, run and three RBI. Bachert, Hamilton and Burgess had the other hits for the Cards. Hamilton and Rousse each had a steal in the game.
Hannah Atwell (0-4) took the loss in relief for SV, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Anna Conard got a no-decision after starting. She tossed 5.2 innings, striking-out seven batters and allowing 11 hits with three walks and three runs.
Up Next...
The Cardinals will continue their stretch of five consecutive days with league doubleheaders on Thursday (Apr. 26), as they travel to play at Wayne State University. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. in Detroit. SVSU is still at No. 6 in the most recent Midwest Regional rankings, which were released on Wednesday afternoon.
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