KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team put two complete games together today (Mar. 10), but could only manage a spilt on day four of the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State-Mankato. The Cardinals defeated Concordia in their first game of the day by a score of 5-4 before falling to a red hot Minnesota State-Mankato that has now won 13 straight games by a score of 2-1.

It took the Cardinals a couple of innings to get warmed up against Concordia – St. Paul in their first game, but a Vanessa Briggs (Freeland, Mich.) walk was all that was need to wake up the offense. Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS) single up the middle would move Briggs to third before Marsha Beaubien (Alpena, Mich.) laced a single through the left side to score Briggs. Kaiser and Beaubein would both come around to score on a a Jessica Anhel (Oxford, Mich.) sacrifice bunt attempt that was thrown away to help give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead after three innings. Concordia would tack on another run in the top of the fifth inning, but the Cardinals would answer once again with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Beaubien would a single of the middle and immediately steal second base, her seventh of the year before Stacy Kraatz (Howell, Mich./Hartland HS) singled up the middle to advance her over to third. Anhel would drive her in with a single up the middle; she would score later in the inning on a passed ball to give the Cardinals a 5-2 lead. Concordia would add another two more runs in the sixth inning, but Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) was able to end the rally attempt and set the Golden Bears down in order in the seventh for her ninth career save. Kraatz (1-2) got the win for the Cardinals going 5.1 innings, allowing four run on seven hits while striking out two.

In their second game SVSU ran into a Minnesota State – Mankato team that has reeled off 13 straight wins on the season. This match-up would end of being a battle of pitching staffs and defenses. Cardinals starter Kari Bowlby (Elkhart, Ind./Central) would make one mistake in the circle all day afternoon as she groove that Abby Morris of Mankato would send over the fence for their only two runs of the afternoon. Bowlby would go three innings striking out three and only allowing those two runs.
Fulton would come in and pitch three innings in relief for the Cardinals.

Saginaw Valley would struggle to get the bats going until the sixth inning when Nicole Fick (Columbiaville, Mich./Lapeer West HS) doubled to left field and would later score on a Beaubien single up the middle. The Cardinals were unable to keep that momentum going in the top of the seventh.

Saginaw Valley moves to 4-4 on the season and will continue play in the Rebel Spring Game on Wednesday (Mar. 11) playing Northern Kentucky and Fayetteville State at Fulton Field starting at 9:00 am.