UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley
State University baseball team opened Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play Wednesday (Mar. 17) with a sweep
of the Tiffin University Dragons. The Cardinals (5-6, 2-0
GLIAC) downed the Dragons (3-15, 0-2 GLIAC) by scores of 10-9 and
7-4, respectively.
Game One
Tiffin got on the board first, recording a single run in the top
of the first to take the advantage. SVSU would respond quick,
scoring four runs in their half of the second to take a three-run
lead. A double by Kevin Dore
(Kawkawlin, Mich./Muskegon CC) plated Dustin
Mayner (Linden, Mich.) and Chase
Coulter (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS), and was followed by a
Ryan
Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) single up the
middle that scored Dore and Matt Hunt
(Howell, Mich./Concordia University).
Tiffin would cut the lead to a pair of runs in the top half of
the third, but the Cardinals would score three in the bottom of
four to make it a 7-2, as Dore hit his first career home run, a
two-run shot over the right center wall, which scored Hunt. A
Ryan
Webber (Clio, Mich./Powers Catholic HS) double would later
score Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS).
The Dragons would knot the score up after putting up a five spot
in their half of the sixth, and would take a 9-7 lead after scoring
two more in the top of the eighth inning. SVSU would rally,
however, as Ermers singled to score Hunt and a Webber single up the
middle, which scored Ermers and Dore, gave the Cardinals the
walk-off 10-9 victory.
Dore had three hits in the opener, with a home run, double and
four RBI's. Webber also had three base-knocks with a double
while driving-in three Cardinals. Ermers had a pair of hits
with a double and three RBI's, while O'Boyle, Mayner and Hunt all
added singles. Justin
Drzewicki (Bay City, Mich./Central HS) picked-up his second win
of the season in relief.
Game Two
The Cardinals would strike first in the nightcap, recording one
run in the bottom of the first after Webber singled to score Ermers
from second. Tiffin would tie things up with a run in the top
of the fourth, and take a 4-1 lead with three runs in its half of
the sixth. The Cardinals would respond with six runs in the
bottom of the sixth, as O'Boyle doubled to score Dore and Ermers to
cut the Dragon advantage to 4-3. Eric Burt
(Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) would run for O'Boyle and Scott
Horman (St. Louis, Mich.) would for Webber, who was hit by a
pitch. Josh Peterson (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS)
would walk to load the bases for Charlie
Thomas (Northville, Mich.), who put a belt-high fastball into
the trees over the left-center wall for a grand slam, giving the
Cards the 7-4 advantage. Cardinal reliever Colin
Coulter (Clio, Mich./Powers HS) would hold the Dragons in the
top of the seventh and record his first victory of the season.
Ermers had two hits with a pair of doubles and runs
scored. O'Boyle had a pair of hits with a double and two
RBI's. Thomas had two hits, including the big blow in the
sixth that gave him four RBI's. Webber, Dore, and Chase
Coulter each added singles in the nightcap.
The Cardinals return to action Friday (Mar. 19), as they travel
to the University of Findlay for a three game GLIAC series.
