WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Continuing on with the third day of play in Florida, the SVSU Softball team faced Georgian Court and Cedarville in another doubleheader at the DiamondPlex Complex in Winter Haven, Florida. The Cardinals opened the day with a solid 8-2 victory over the Lions before closing-out with a 6-0 win over the Yellow Jackets.
The sweep puts Saginaw Valley at 10-2 overall on the season, matching the best start for the program since the 2010 season.
Game #1 - Georgian Court
The Lions got on the board in the top of the 1st inning with a two run shot, taking the 2-0 lead over the Cardinals.
That score held true until the home half of the 5th when Saginaw Valley scored five runs to take a 5-2 edge. Sarah Gersch scored on a bases loaded fielder's choice from Julia Salisbury then Alex Roob walked with the bases juiced again to push Jessica Kreuzer across. Meagan VerVaecke then delivered a three RBI double that scored Roob, Salisbury and Jackie Popko.
Three more came in the bottom of the 5th, with the Cards getting runs off a two RBI double from Blasia Moyler and an RBI double from Salisbury to put the score at 8-2.
Julia Mundy (3-2) picked up the complete game victory, allowing two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
VerVaecke finished with three RBI on her double. Salisbury and Moyler each had two RBI doubles as well. Sara Moos, Roob and Shelby Misiak each walked twice and scored a run, with Roob adding an RBI on a walk. Popko and Sabrina Sage each had a base hit, as did Gersch with a walk. Popko and Salisbury reached via a free pass in the game as well, with Saginaw Valley drawing a season-high nine walks.
Game #2 - Cedarville
The first crooked number on the board came in the top of the 3rd inning when the Cards scored three times to take a 3-0 lead. Misiak had an RBI single to deep left field to score Gersch for the first run. Popko then stepped in and hit a home run to left, pushing Misiak across as well.
The 6th inning saw three more runs come SVSU's way to push its lead to 6-0. Salisbury had an RBI single that plated Popko. Morgan Duda then had a sacrifice fly that scored Salisbury and Kael Prickett scored on a wild pitch.
The 6-0 score would prove to be the final for the game, sealing the Tuesday sweep for the Cards.
Popko's home run was her fifth of the season and fourth of the Florida trip so far. Salisbury had two hits with a walk, run and RBI. Misiak had a hit and RBI while Duda had the other RBI for Saginaw Valley. Alexis Gills, Prickett and Sara Moos had the other base hits.
Emily Depew (4-0) remained unbeaten on the season and pitched 6.0 innings for the victory. She struck-out seven batters, allowing just two hits and a pair of walks. Mikayla Alexandrou worked a scoreless 7th inning, walking one and posting a strikeout.
Up Next...
The Cardinals are off on Wednesday before returning to the diamond on Thursday (Mar. 5) versus Felician and Bridgeport. Game times are at 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively. You can follow all of the action live at svsucardinals.com.
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