UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team opened the 2021 season in impressive fashion, winning five games in a perfect weekend at the Dome in Rosemont, Ill.

The Cardinals had several outstanding performances throughout the three-day event, and sophomore Sarah Gersch has been honored with the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Week award, it was announced by the league on Tuesday.

The Plainfield, Ill., native went 9-of-19 at the plate with one double, three triples, one home run, and 10 RBIs, batting .474 and slugging 1.000. She racked up multiple hits in four of the five contests.

In the season opener against Quincy University, Gersch finished with three hits, including two triples, adding a stolen base. She was 2-fo-5 with a grand slam and six RBIs in the win over the University of Findlay on Saturday.

The Cardinals continue nonconference play against West Liberty University and Ohio Dominican University in a two-day, round-robin March 5-6 in Columbus, Ohio.