SANDUSKY, Ohio -- The Cardinal Softball team split on its opening day at the 2019 GLIAC Tournament, played at the Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, Ohio. Saginaw Valley registered a 3-1 comeback victory over Northwood in the opening game before falling to No. 8 Grand Valley State by a 10-3 score in the second game of the day.

Northwood (W, 3-1)

The Timberwolves got on the board first in the bottom of the 2nd inning, scoring a single run on a sacrifice fly to make the score 1-0. 

SVSU trailed by that score all the way until the top of the 6th. That's when Jackie Popko had an RBI single that pushed Becky Corbett across to tie the game at 1-1. 

With two outs in the top of the 7th, Alexis Cerven had a bunt single and the ball ended up loose as the throw reached first base, allowing Alex Roob and Meagan VerVaecke to score on the play and give the Cardinals a 3-1 edge.

Despite Northwood getting a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the 7th, Saginaw Valley was able to close-out for the opening win, 3-1. 

Julia Mundy (8-7) tossed a complete game for the victory, allowing just a single run on sive hits. She had one strikeout and four walks. 

Popko and Cerven each had a hit and RBI while Julia Salisbury and VerVaecke had the other hits for the Cards. Corbett reached twice on a walk.

Grand Valley (L, 10-3)

GVSU got out in front quickly in the game, taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning over SVSU. 

The Cards got a sac fly from Salisbury in the 2nd to make the score 6-1 but the Lakers added two more in the 3rd to extend their lead out to 8-1.

Saginaw Valley added a run in the 4th on a Shelby Misiak solo home run and another in the 5th when Popko had an RBI single to push across Sarah Gersch. That made the score 8-3. 

Two more runs for Grand Valley in the 5th made the score 10-3 and the Lakers held that score true and closed-out for that victory.

Misiak had the only extra-base hit with the solo shot. Popko had an RBI single and a walk. Gersch had a hit and run scored, as did Aubree Mouthaan. 

Mikayla Alexandrou (4-6) took the loss in the circle, pitching 0.2 innings. She allowed six runs on three hits, walking three batters. 

Up Next...

SVSU plays Purdue Northwest on Saturday (May 4) in an elimination game. First pitch will be 10:00 a.m. and you can follow along live at svsucardinals.com.

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