BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team swept Ferris State in a doubleheader that was rescheduled twice and moved from University Center to Big Rapids. The Cardinals (18-6, 2-0 GLIAC) won game one 5-2 before finishing the day with a 4-2 in the capper to complete the sweep and start 2-0 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play.

Alexis Gills (3-7), Jackie Popko (3-8), and Sarah Gersch (3-8) all led SVSU players with three hits on the afternoon. Gersch and Leah Denome (2-6) both registered two doubles in the 2-0 outing. Gersch brought five baserunners home to lead the Cardinals with five RBI. Paige Thomson (2-3), Sydney Herioux (2-5), and Denome all tallied two hits while Maddie Campagna (1-4) contributed one.

Game 1: Saginaw Valley State def. Ferris State, 5-2

Gills belted a triple to right field in the top of the second inning that set up Cam Coonan to hit a sacrifice fly that scored Gills and gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. A double to left field in the bottom half to knot things up.

The score remained tied through four innings before SVSU added four runs in the final inning of regulation to pull away 5-1. Denome hit a two-out double to left field to get into scoring position. Herioux then hit an infield single that scored Marissa Beck. Popko singled to center field on the next play that scored two more runs and pushed the score to 4-1. Gersch scored the final run with a triple to left field.

The Bulldogs netted one run in the bottom half, but couldn't close the gap before the game was finished.

Emily Depew (W, 5-3) pitched her seventh complete game with five strikeouts to earn the win in the circle in game one.

Game 2: Saginaw Valley State def. Ferris State, 4-2

FSU hopped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The lead didn't last long as the Cardinals added three runs in the top of the fifth with a double from Gersch that scored two and a third added on a groundout to flip the score to 3-2.

Gersch hit another double to bring Popko home in the seventh inning for the final run of the afternoon.

Jaclyn Groves got the start at pitcher for SVSU in game two where she pitched a complete game and sat down seven batters in the winning effort.

UP NEXT

The SVSU softball team remains on the road with a GLIAC doubleheader against Parkside. The first game is set for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.