UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team extended their winning streak to 12 games with 16-3 and 8-2 victories over Lake Superior State University this afternoon (Mar. 28) at the SVSU Sports Complex. The Cardinals pounded out 31 hits and scored 24 runs as they improved their GLIAC record to 4-0 with the convincing wins.

GAME ONE
Saginaw Valley State University picked up where it left off on Wednesday against the Lakers; pumping out hits and scoring runs. The Cardinals' offense, for the second time in four days, scored 16 runs in a game against the Lakers, more impressively the Cardinals racked up 20 hits in the contest.

After a 1-2-3 inning to start the game the Cardinals offense got to work in the top of the second inning as designated player Sarah Sheffer (Watervliet, Mich. / Kalamazoo Valley C.C.) gave SV SU a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to lead off the second inning. The Lakers would hold the Cardinals scoreless in the third and then tie the score at 1-1, but Sheffer would once again help Saginaw Valley, this time with a single up the middle. Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich./River Rouge HS) would come in and pinch run for the Cardinals and score on a Jessica Anhel (Oxford, Mich.) double to left center. Shannon McLaughlin (Watervliet, Mich. / Kalamazoo Valley C.C.) would then homer to give the Cardinals the 4-1 advantage.

SVSU would tack two more runs on in their half of the fifth ,after Marsha Beaubein (Alpena, Mich.) reach base after being hit by a pitch and Stacy Kraatz (Howell, Mich./Hartland HS) singled to center field. Both Cardinal base runners would score on a perfectly placed bunt by Nicole Fick (Columbiaville, Mich./Lapeer West HS) that scooted by the pitcher.

Saginaw Valley would go up 8-1 in the sixth inning on a Beaubein two-run home run to left field that scored Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) who single earlier in the innings to reach base. Lake Superior State would respond this time with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Cardinals lead to 8-3.

The Cardinals offense would then explode in the top the seventh innings, scoring eight runs on eight hits, seven of those runs coming before the Lakers could manage to get an out on the Cardinals. Fick would walk to start the inning and would advance to second on an Anhel single to left. A bunt single by McLaughlin would load the bases for pinch hitter Jordan Stuart (Richmond, Mich.) who would drive in a run with a single to center field. A Jordan single up the middle would bring home two more Cardinals to give the Cardinals an 11-3 lead. Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS) would then triple to right center bringing home two more Saginaw Valley runs and would come home herself on a Beaubein single. Billi Hoeppner would pinch run for Beaubein and score on a double down the right field line by Kraatz. Kraatz would become the first out of the inning after the Cardinals scored seven runs to start off the seventh when she was caught stealing third. Sheffer would then blast her second homerun of the game to give the Cardinals their 16-3 final score.

Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) got the start in the circle for the Cardinals, throwing seven innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned on four hits, while striking out nine Lakers on the afternoon to move her record to 8-2 on the season.

GAME TWO
The Cardinals would get things going offensively in the bottom of the second when pinch runner Tory Watson (Oxford, Ohio, Talawanda HS) scored on a Nikki Bigelow (Grandville, Mich.) single up the middle.

Saginaw Valley would go up 5-0 in the fourth inning behind four hits, a Lake Superior State error and a two-run homer by Kaiser. This time though, the Lakers would fight back, scoring a run to cut the Cardinals lead to 5-1.

Saginaw Valley would keep the pressure on in the bottom of the fifth after Sheffer led off the inning with a double to left center and Fick reach on an infield single. Both runners would come around to score on a McLaughlin single to centerfield. The Cardinals would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Jordan scored on a Kraatz single to give the Cardinals their 8-2 final advantage.

Kari Bowlby (Elkhart, Ind./Central HS) (4-1) got the start and the win for the Cardinals, allowing one run over four innings, while striking out five. Megan Samassa (Holly, Mich./Flint Powers HS) and Fulton also pitched in relief for the Cardinals in the game.

With the wins the Cardinals improve to 17-5 overall on the season and 4-0 in the GLIAC, while Lake Superior State University falls to 6-21 overall on the season and 0-4 in the GLIAC. The Cardinals will be in action again on Sunday (Mar. 29) when they travel to Northwood University for their first road GLIAC game of the 2009 season.