UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State
University softball team defeated the University of Findlay twice
today (Apr. 2) in their 2010 season home opener with scores of 10-0
and 8-0.
Game One
The Cardinals got things going in the third inning when they
scored eight runs on seven hits. Senior Shannon McLaughlin (Benton Harbor, Mich. / KVCC) led
off the inning with a double to left center, sophomore Lauren
Memmer (White Lake, Mich. / Lakeland HS) laid down a bunt for a
hit that advanced McLaughlin to third. Senior Billi
Hoeppner (Hemlock, Mich.) singled for a bunt and scored
McLaughlin and junior Ashley
Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) singled through the right side
to score Memmer. Senior Angela
Kaiser (Waterford, Mich. / Our Lady of the Lakes HS) continued
the hitting streak with a double to right field scoring Jordan to
make the score 4-0. Saginaw Valley continued hitting the ball
as senior Nikki Bigelow (Grandville, Mich.) stepped to the
plate and hit a single to right field.
The Cardinals would pick up where they left off in the third
inning scoring two more runs to end the contest in the fifth
inning. Junior Jill
Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) singles to right field to get things
started for Saginaw Valley. Kaiser hit a line shot double out
to the center field fence to and pinch runner Allison Jaskullka (Madison Heights, Mich. / Lamphere
HS) advanced to third. Pinch hitter Katie
Smith (Clarkston, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to
score Jaskullka and advanced Kaiser to third. Junior Monica
Gathright (Baroda, Mich. / KVCC) pinch hit and singled to right
field scoring Kaiser.
Junior Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) got the start in the circle
for the Cardinals improving her to 8-1 on the season. Fulton
had nine strikeouts and only allowed two hits on the day.
Game Two
Saginaw Valley picked up in the second game right where they
left off scoring at least one run in four of the five innings they
played. Memmer led off the inning with a single to the
shortstop, and Peterson would knock her in with a single up the
middle.
Memmer would start the scoring again for the Cardinals when she
led off the third inning with a bunt single and stole second
base. Junior Jessica
McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.) singles to right field scoring
Memmer. Jordan doubled to center field which scored
McKeith. Kaiser singled to second base which loaded the bases
for Saginaw Valley where they executed and scored two more runs in
the inning.
McKeith who went 3-for-3 on the day singled to center field in
the fourth inning and came around to score to score after an error
by Findlay. Gathright was hit by a pitch and freshman Dana
Velzy (Farmington, Mich.) singled through the right side of the
field and they both scored on a McKeith triple to right center in
the top of the fifth inning.
Memmer started in the circle and pitched her first no hitter on
the season with three strikeouts and no walks. She improves
to 2-1 overall on the season.
With the win the Cardinals improve to 17-2 overall on the
season, and 4-0 in the GLIAC, while Findlay falls to 11-15 overall
on the season, and 1-3 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley returns
to action on Saturday (Apr. 3) when they take on Hillsdale
College. Game times are scheduled for 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
