UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - In the bottom of the
seventh, game tied 6-6 of Game 2, senior Kevin Schwedler (Midland,
Mich.) stepped to the plate and drove a walk-off single to left
field to cap the game, and his career in a Cardinal uniform, today
(May 4) against Rochester College. In doubleheader action, SVSU
took both games, 2-1, and 7-6.
GAME 1
In the opener, it was a pitcher's duel, as both teams only
got four hits in the seven inning contest. But it wouldn't
take the Cardinals long to gain a 2-run advantage as junior Josh
Peterson (Midland, Mich.) doubled to left field, then promptly
stole third base. With one out, junior Chase Coulter (Clio, Mich.)
hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Peterson.
In the second inning, freshman Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) got
the bats rolling again with an infield single, followed by an RBI
double down the left field line from junior Josh Kozuch (Bay City,
Mich.) to cap SVSU's scoring in the game.
Rochester would make it a one-run game in the top of the seventh,
but freshman hurler Colin Coulter (Clio, Mich.) would shake off the
run, and get the final out of the game by fanning Rochester's
last batter of the game. Coulter would strike out three on the
afternoon, allowing only four hits, with no earned runs.
GAME 2
In the night cap, the Cardinals got off 10 hits against the
Warrior pitching staff, and jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the
first inning.
Junior Kevin Dore led off with an infield single to the short
stop, and stole second base, followed by an RBI double to left
center from freshman Steve Pistono (Sterling Heights, Mich.).
Junior Ryan Thomas (Clio, Mich.) moved Pistono to third on a
sacrifice fly to right field before sophomore Dustin Mayner
(Gaines, Mich.) got on after getting hit by a pitch. With runners
at the corners, the Warrior pitcher was called for a balk, which
advanced Pistono home, and Mayner to second. Freshman Mike VanAlst
(Clio, Mich.) dug in and drove an RBI double to left center field,
scoring Mayner from second base.
The Warriors would get one back in the top of the second, before
tying the score at 3 in the third with two more runs, and would
take the lead by two in the fifth, 5-3.
The Cardinals, not deterred, dug in and got a big inning in the
sixth to take a one-run lead, 6-5. Mayner stepped in to drive a
double to left field, and was replaced on the base path by Peterson
before senior Aaron Maurer (Ubly, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to
center field to move Peterson to third. Freshman Dan Norton (Grand
Rapids, Mich.) slugged a single to right center field that scored
Peterson. Junior Derek Foyt (Ortonville, Mich.) stepped in to run
for Norton, as freshman Ryan Ermers drew a walk, followed a two-out
double steal by Foyt and Ermers moved runners into scoring position
for Dore, who would reach on an error that would score two
runs.
The Warriors would tie the game in the top of the seventh, 6-6,
before the dramatic finish. With two outs, Peterson would draw a
walk, followed by a walk issued to Maurer before Schwedler would
take the first pitch to left field to end the game, 7-6.
With the wins, the Cardinals improve to 19-28-1 overall and capped
the GLIAC campaign at 13-19-1 against Northwood University on
Sunday, to end the 2009 season.
