UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team began the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional against a familiar foe in Ferris State University on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals (44-12) put four runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth to earn the 4-0 win and move onto day two with a 1-0 record.
Both teams held one another scoreless through five innings, with SVSU stranding six runners on base through the deadlocked frames. The Bulldogs (28-20) left five runners on base for the whole game and never got past second base.
Aalana Kimble (W, 19-5) had a stellar performance inside the circle as she made it 6.2 innings without allowing a hit. She finished the game with nine strikeouts and four walks for her 14th complete game of the season. Kimble had an equally impressive showing at the plate, where she went 3-for-3 with two RBI.
Lillia Sherman recorded a hit in her single appearance and drove a run home on the play. Emma Helvie and Ella Schneider got a hit for the Cardinals, with Natalie Savage recording the other RBI for SVSU.
Kimble had a shot to put Saginaw Valley on the board in the third inning when she singled through the left side to lead off the frame. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Ella Reifschneider as the Bulldogs were not covering third base. A pop-up and a ground out ended the inning before the Cardinals could capitalize on the opportunity.
The tie was broken in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally from SVSU. Helvie singled down the left-field line and Schneider walked to put two runners on. Kate Pnacek was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Savage was hit by a pitch to put the first run on the board before Kimble helped her cause with a single up the middle to bring Pnacek and Schneider home for a 3-0 advantage. Savage scored on a Sherman single to put the score at 4-0, and SVSU sealed the win in the seventh.
UP NEXT: The Cardinals will play Drury in the first game of day two at 11:00 a.m. ET.
