ROSEMONT, ILL. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team lost a tightly fought 1-0 battle to top-seeded Grand Valley State to open the third day of the GLIAC Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois. The Cardinals (32-19) finished the day with a 1-0 win over Purdue Northwest in the bottom of the ninth inning to advance to the championship game of the tournament on Sunday.
GAME 1 – GVSU 1 – SVSU 0
Emily Depew (L, 19-7) got the start and went 6.0 innings with a season-high 12 strikeouts against the Lakers for her fifth double-digit K game this season.
The Lakers would nab the win with a run in the fourth inning with a double to right field on the team's second hit of the ballgame.
Both defenses were stout as SVSU was held scoreless and only threatened in the seventh as Natalie Savage reached second base but the final out was recorded before the tying run could cross the plate.
Olivia Sabin and Alyssa Muench recorded one hit each in the losing effort.
GAME 2 – SVSU 1 – PNW 0 (9 Innings)
Aalana Kimble got the start in the circle for the Cardinals. She went 5.0 innings and gave up two hits with two strikeouts. Depew (W, 20-17) relieved Kimble in the sixth inning and went 4.0 innings with one strikeout to get the win.
SVSU threatened early as Ella Reifschneider led off with a double to left center to get in scoring position. Kimble would walk on the next play and the Cardinals had two on with no outs in the first inning but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as the Pride got out of the inning unscathed.
Mya Purdy walked to lead off the fifth before moving to second on a single by Muench with no outs. Reifschneider hit a single to short with two outs to load the bases, but again PNW was able to escape the inning without giving up a run.
Both teams got a runner to second base in the seventh inning, but the defenses kept the game scoreless through regulation.
Maddie Campagna doubled to right field in the bottom of the ninth before Purdy walked it off with a single up the middle to give the Cardinals the 1-0 win.
Reifschneider went 3-for-4 in the game with a double to lead SVSU in hits. Muench recorded two hits in her three appearances with Purdy getting the most important hit with her RBI single that won the game.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals advance to the championship game tomorrow and will get a rematch against Grand Valley State University at Noon EST. SVSU will have to beat the Lakers twice to claim its third-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship.