AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State
University baseball team split with Wheeling Jesuit University
(1-1) on day three of the Russ Matt Invitational. The
Cardinals (2-4) lost a heartbreaker in game one via a walk-off
single in the bottom of the seventh before bouncing-back for a 7-2
victory in game two of the twinbill.
Wheeling-Jesuit jumped on top in the first game, scoring one run
in the bottom of the first. SVSU would respond in its half of
the third inning, though, as senior Ryan Webber (Clio,
Mich./Powers Catholic HS) singled up the middle to score fellow
senior Kevin Dore
(Kawkawlin, Mich./Muskegon CC). Jesuit would record another
run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Saginaw would respond
again with two runs in the next half-inning as Webber roped a
double that plated senior Josh Peterson
(Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS). Freshman Eric Burt (Saginaw,
Mich./Heritage HS), who ran for Webber, would scored on an
error. Wheeling would knot the game up at three in their half
of the fifth, and would use consecutive hits in the bottom of the
seventh for the walk-off 4-3 victory.
Webber went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the
opener. Senior Charlie Thomas
(Northville, Mich.) added a double, while senior Chase Coulter (Clio,
Mich./Powers Catholic HS) and junior Mitch Vrooman
(Comstock, Mich./Kellogg CC) each had singles in the game.
Wheeling would once again hold a 1-0 advantage in the second
game, this time for the first 3 1/2 innings of the contest.
In the bottom of the fourth, however, SVSU would explode for five
runs to take the 5-1 advantage. Freshman Kyle O'Boyle (Midland,
Mich./Bullock Creek HS) drove-in Peterson and Webber before
pinch-hitter Dan
Norton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central HS) scored
sophomore Mike
VanAlst (Clio, Mich.). O'Boyle would score on a wild
pitch and Dore would plate Coulter with a single to left field to
round-out the scoring for the inning. Saginaw would allow one run
in the fifth before responding with two of their own in the bottom
half, as Burt scored on a passed ball and Peterson crossed the
plate on an error by Wheeling-Jesuit. Senior southpaw Scott Haase (Mt.
Pleasant, Mich./Sacred Heart Academy) picked-up the win, scattering
six hits in as many innings while only allowing one earned run and
striking-out five.
Dore finished 3-for-4 with an RBI in the game, while Peterson
and O'Boyle each had two hits, including a double each, with
O'Boyle adding two RBI. Webber, Thomas, VanAlst and Coulter
each added singles in the victory.
The Cardinals return to action Monday (Mar. 8), as they play a
single nine-inning affair against Lock Haven University at 1:00 pm
on the Lake Myrtle Main Field in Auburndale, Fla.
