CLERMONT, Fla. – Saginaw Valley State University senior shortstop Sarah Gersch recorded three stolen bases to set the new career record for the program in that category with 81 as she led the Cardinals to two shutout victories on the first day of the Florida Spring Break trip. The Cardinals (6-2) began the day with a 6-0 win over Lake Erie College before ending the day with a 3-0 decision over St. Cloud State.
Gersch had the hot bat as she went 3-for-7 at the plate with a walk. She was successful in all three of her stolen base attempts. Paige Kolinski (2-for-5), Olivia Sabin (2-for-5), Leah Denome (2-for-6), and Sara Moos (2-for-7) all recorded two hits on the afternoon. Kolinski led the way with two RBI and two runs while Sydney Herioux (1-for-5) also registered two RBI.
Game 1: Saginaw Valley State def. Lake Erie, 6-0
SVSU left three runners in scoring position as the first five innings were scoreless in game one. Kolinski got things rolling in the top half of the 5th-inning with a two-RBI double that scored Marissa Beck and Sabin to put the Cards up 2-0. Cam Coonan registered an RBI after an error by the Storm gave her first base and scored Emily Beckas to extend the lead a run. Herioux then belted a two-run single that pushed that Alexis Gills and Coonan across the plate to create the 5-0 advantage. Coonan tacked on the final run in the sixth with an RBI double that brought Kolinski to the plate to seal the big win.
Emily Depew (W, 1-2) earned her first win of the season after seven innings of work where she struck out nine and gave up just two hits.
Game 2: Saginaw Valley State def. St. Cloud State, 3-0
SVSU started early after Moos scored Gersch on a single to right field with just one out. Kolinski walked and Coonan got a base off an error to load the runways. Gills then smacked a single through the left side that scored Moos and the Cardinals led 2-0. Denome then added to the lead with an RBI walk to push the advantage to 3-0 in the first inning of play.
SVSU finished the afternoon with a clean game defensively as the Huskies never really threatened through the final six innings of the game.
Alyssa Muench (W, 4-0) remains unbeaten in the circle for the Cardinals. She pitched a complete game and allowed just two hits while sitting down seven St. Cloud State hitters.
UP NEXT
The SVSU softball team gets an early start tomorrow with a 9:00 a.m. contest against Minnesota State-Mankato. They will wrap day two with an 11:30 a.m. first pitch against Sioux Falls.