WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Cardinal Softball team upped its record to 7-1 overall on the 2020 season after collecting a pair of victories on Sunday (Mar. 1) at The Spring Games in Winter Haven, Florida. Saginaw Valley opened the day with a 3-0 win over Adelphi before posting a 3-1 victory over the No. 12 team in the nation in Saint Anselm.
Game #1 - Adelphi
SVSU got on the board in the bottom of the 4th inning to take a 1-0 lead when pinch runner Jessica Kreuzer scored on a wild pitch. Kreuzer ran for Shelby Misiak, who led-off the inning with a single down the third base line.
Two more runs came in the 5th inning when Jackie Popko hit a two-run home run to left center, scoring Sarah Gersch in the process. Gersch had a two-out single to get things going. That put the game at 3-0 in SV's favor.
That same 3-0 score proved to be the final, as the Cards started the morning off on the right note.
Popko, Gersch and Misiak had the lone hits for the Cardinals, with Popko knocking-in two RBI. Gersch added a walk as well.
Julia Mundy (2-1) got the start in the circle and pitched 6.0 innings in the victory. She scattered six hits and struck-out two, walking one. Alyssa Muench picked up her first career save in a scoreless 7th inning. She had two strikeouts and a walk as well.
Game #2 - Saint Anselm
Saginaw Valley's first run came in the top of the 2nd when Alex Roob had an RBI single to score Julia Salisbury, who had doubled to center field. That gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Popko came through with another long ball in the top of the 5th, hitting a long line shot to deep center, tacking-on two runs as she scored Gersch after she reached on a bunt single. That pushed the lead to 3-0.
The Hawks had scoring opportunities from there, loading the bases in the 6th after getting a solo home run and reaching second base in the 7th with a chance to tie the game. The Cardinal pitchers and defense would come through, however, closing-out for the 3-1 victory.
Jaclyn Groves (2-0) got the win after working 5.0 innings in the start. She allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Emily Depew picked-up her first career save after closing-out the game and pitching 2.0 innings of scoreless ball. She allowed two hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Popko had two hits, including her third home run of the year with two more RBI. Gersch had two hits while Roob had the RBI single. Sabrina Sage had a double, as did Salisbury.
Up Next...
Day two of play in Florida begins on Monday (Mar. 2) with a 10:00 a.m. game versus Concordia-St. Paul. SVSU then faces Seton Hill in a 12:15 p.m. game. you can follow all of the action at svsucardinals.com.
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