WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The SVSU Softball team rounded-out play in Florida for the 2020 spring trip on Saturday (Mar. 7) with games versus the No. 1 team in the nation in Augustana (S.D.) and regional foe Truman State. The Cardinals came to play once again, racking-up 15 hits in a 9-3 win over Augustana before finishing the day with a 15-5 win over Truman.
Saginaw Valley is now 16-2 overall on the 2020 campaign, which continues to be the best start to a season since 2010.
Game #1 - Augustana
Saginaw Valley took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the 1st when Shelby Misiak had an RBI single that scored Sarah Gersch.
After the Vikings tied the game at 1-1 in the 2nd, the Cards grabbed the lead back and made it 4-1 after an RBI double from Sabrina Sage, an RBI triple from Gersch and an RBI double from Sara Moos.
The next two runs came from the Vikings, who scored single runs in the 3rd and 6th innings, respectively, to make the score 4-3 in SV's favor.
The bottom of the 6th saw the Cardinals break the game open again, however, as Misiak drove home two more with a single and Jackie Popko drilled a three-run home run to push the lead out to 9-3.
A 1-2-3 7th inning sealed that score and SVSU came away with the victory.
Gersch and Misiak each had three hits in the game while Popko, Moos, Blasia Moyler and Sage all added two-apiece. Misiak and Popko had three RBI with Gersch, Moos and Sage recording one. Popko is tied for the GLIAC lead with her seven home runs and leads the league with 21 RBI.
Emily Depew (7-0) picked up her GLIAC-leading seventh victory in a complete game effort. She allowed three runs on six hits, walking one and striking-out six batters.
Game #2 - Truman State
The Cardinals were dominant throughout this game, with the long bright spot for the Bulldogs coming when they went for four runs in the bottom of the 3rd. SVSU finished with 13 hits and would close-out for a 15-5 win.
Popko had three hits with two RBI in the nightcap while Moos had two hits, three RBI and three runs. She collected her first career home run. Kael Prickett had two hits while Sage had a hit and three RBI. Jessica Kreuzer notched her first collegiate hit as well, adding two RBI to her credit. Moyler added another two hits versus the Bulldogs.
Jaclyn Groves (3-0) picked up the victory in relief, working the final 3.0 innings. She allowed four hits, two runs and struck-out five batters. Julia Mundy got the start, going 2.0 innings while allowing three runs (2 ER) and posting two strikeouts.
Up Next...
The Cards continue play on the road Friday (Mar. 13), as they face Cedarville on the road in a pair of regional contests. The doubleheader versus the Yellow Jackets is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
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