HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team started 2024 with a sweep of Lincoln Memorial on Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals (2-0) took game one 11-9 after building a 7-0 lead in the first two innings of play. Game two was another high-scoring affair that saw SVSU pull out an 11-10 decision.
GAME 1 – SVSU 11 – LMU 9
Saginaw Valley State did not hesitate to get on the board with two runs in the top of the first. Sarah Moos hit a double to right center that scored Kaitlyn Pnacek and Aalana Kimble for the 2-0 lead.
Emily Depew got the start inside the circle as she pitched 5.0 innings and gave up 13 hits and seven runs while striking out three batters. Kimble earned the save in two innings of relief where she sat down one Railsplitter during that time.
Five more runners crossed the plate in the top of the second. Olivia Sabin was the first as she scored off a single from Ella Reifschneider. Kimble then singled to score Reifschneider to extend the lead to 4-0. Paige Kolinski hit a three-run home run to left center to score Pnacek and Kimble for the final scoring play of the inning.
LMU responded in the fourth with a triple to left center that scored two runs, a single to score another, and another triple for two more that cut the Cardinal lead to 7-5.
Kimble doubled to left center in the sixth to bring Mya Purdy home and widen the gap to three runs.
Two more runs were scored in the bottom half of the sixth by the Splitters as the game moved into the final frame with a one-run margin.
Maddie Campagna blasted a three-run homer to right-center in the top half of the seventh to put SVSU at its final run total of 11 and a four-run lead.
Lincoln Memorial's rally in the bottom half of the inning was cut short and the Cardinals held on for the win.
Kimble was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBI to lead SVSU offensively. Campagna added three RBI as she went 1-for-4. Moos was 1-for-3 with two RBI to help toward the victory in game one.
GAME 2 – SVSU 11 – LMU 10
Kolinski got the Cardinals on the board in game two with a single up the middle that moved Pnacek to third and scored Reifschneider. Moos then added a sacrifice fly to right field to score Pnacek and SVSU moved to an early two-run lead.
Alyssa Muench pitched six innings to earn her first win of 2024. Muench struck out nine batters while allowing nine hits in her victory.
Delaney Conley pitched the final inning in relief to secure the win and earn the save.
The RailSplitters captured the lead in the second with three runs off two doubles and an error.
Purdy took the edge back for the Cardinals with her first career home run that scored Marissa Beck to put the score at 4-3.
Sydney Herioux singled to left field to score Leah Denome and extend the lead to two runs. Campagna pushed things further with a triple that scored Reifschneider. An error gave Moos first base while scoring Pnacek. Ella Schneider got to help add things with a single to left field that helped Natalie Savage cross the plate, and just like that, the score sat at 8-3 in favor of the Cardinals.
LMU completed the rally with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie things at eight. Two doubles, a single, and an error contributed to the game-tying inning.
Campagna doubled in the seventh to break the tie as Reifschneider scored her third run of the game. Pnacek added a homer to left center to score two runs and give the Cardinals a familiar run total of 11.
Lincoln Memorial loaded the bases to threaten the SVSU lead late. Two runs came in and put the gap to a single run, but the SVSU defense gathered the third out to secure the sweep.
Reifschneider finished game two with a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs. Campagna, Pnacek, Kolinski, Moos, and Herioux tallied two hits. Campagna, Pnacek, and Purdy added two RBI to their stat line in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will begin the Abe's Invitational hosted by Lincoln Memorial tomorrow with games against Clarion and Bloomsburg. The first game against Clarion is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., with Bloomsburg set for noon.