KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The 2009 softball season got underway today (Mar. 7) as the Lady Cardinals battled with Saint Xavier and Northern Kentucky in day one of the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. In game one the Cardinals faced off with Saint Xavier and took the game 3-0 and in the second game of the day fell to Northern Kentucky by a score of 4-1.

The Cardinals rode the strong pitching of Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) (1-0) against Saint Xavier, as she threw a complete game three hitter for her first win of the season. She struck out 13 of the 26 batters she faced on the day, while not allowing a walk. Marsha Beaubein (Alpena, Mich.) led offensive attack for the Cardinals, going two-for-three with an RBI and two stolen bases.

SVSU wasted no time getting things going in the bottom first, after Beaubien stole third, Jessica Anhel (Oxford, Mich.) roped a singled down the left field line to bring home Beaubein and give the Cardinals a 1-0. In the second inning Vanessa Briggs (Freeland, Mich.) would take a two out walk and advance to second on an Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) single to left field. Walks to Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich. / Our Lady of the Lakes HS) and Beaubien would move Briggs across the plate to give SVSU a 2-0 lead. Saginaw Valley would add an insurance run in the fifth when Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Stevenson HS) lined a pinch hit single down the left field line. Nicole Fick (Columbiaville, Mich. / Lapeer West HS) would advance her home with a deep sacrifice fly to right, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage.

In the second game the Cardinals would once again get off to a great start as Stacy Kraatz (Howell, Mich./Hartland HS) would blast a two out home run to deep left center, but that would be the only runs SVSU would be able to manage against Northern Kentucky in a 4-1 loss. The Cardinals would put together a mini rally in the sixth as Kaiser singled to the shortstop and then stole second to move into scoring position, Kraatz followed that up with a walk, but would be called out on a Beaubien fielder's choice that would end the Cardinals threat. Kraatz (0-1) took the loss for the Cardinals.

After day one at the Rebel Spring Games the Cardinals are 1-1 and will return to action on Sunday (Mar. 8) against Quincy and Indianapolis. SVSU will play 14 more games before returning to University Center to finish the rest of their season.