UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw
Valley State University baseball team swept a doubleheader against
Rochester College today (May 3) by scores of 8-7 and 18-6 in the
regular-season closer.
Game
One
After giving up two runs in the top of the inning, the Cardinals
responded with a three-run first inning blast, as freshman Kyle O'Boyle
(Midland, Mich. / Bullock Creek HS) put one over the center field
fence, knocking in Drew Woock (Saginaw,
Mich./Heritage HS) and Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich.
/ Howell HS).
A five-run second inning would give Saginaw Valley a four-run
advantage. The rally began as Woock singled down the right
field line, advancing Hunt to third and Eric Burt (Saginaw,
Mich./Heritage HS) home. Sophomore Mike VanAlst (Clio,
Mich./Clio HS) would step into the batter's box and knock a
grand-slam, hitting in O'Boyle, Woock and Hunt.
The Warriors were able to get three runs in the top of the
seventh inning; however it would not be enough, as the Cardinals
closed for the victory, 8-7.
Leading the way for Saginaw Valley was VanAlst, who recorded
four RBIs on two hits with one grand-slam, while O'Boyle posted
three RBIs on the first inning homerun. Hunt, Woock, and
Potts all had two hits on the afternoon as well.
Game
Two
Saginaw Valley took a three-run lead in the bottom of the second
inning, beginning with a lead-off single up the middle off the bat
of Charlie
Thomas (Northville, Mich./Northville HS), who would end up
scoring the first run on a double by junior Dustin Mayner
(Linden, Mich. / Linden HS). Sophomore Luke McClain (Mt.
Morris, Mich. / E.A. Johnson HS) would double to left field,
advancing Ryan
Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Henry Ford II HS) to third
base and scoring O'Boyle. Ermers scored the third run on a
sacrifice fly-out before the third out of the inning.
Rochester College would take a one-run lead in the top of the
third inning, scoring four runs, however the Cardinal offense took
control of the game by posting a nine-run response in the bottom of
the inning. O'Boyle recorded one of his two homeruns of the game,
while Thomas, Ermers and Kevin Dore (Kawkawlin,
Mich./Bay City Western) all hit doubles in the inning.
The Cardinals pressed their eight-run lead to an 11-run
advantage, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as
O'Boyle knocked in another three runs on another bomb. The
Warriors would respond with only two runs in the top of the sixth,
as Saginaw Valley posted another three-run inning in the bottom
half. The Cardinal defense would shut out Rochester College
in the top of the seventh inning to go onto victory, 18-6.
Saginaw Valley was led overall by O'Boyle, who ended the game
with three hits, five RBIs, two homeruns in four plate
appearances. Thomas and Mayner also posted three hits on the
contest while Potts recorded three RBIs.
Junior Matt
Jacobson (North Branch, Mich. / Jackson CC) gained his first
win of the season on the mound for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals end their regular season with an overall record of
22-21 and remain at 16-15 in the GLIAC while Rochester College
falls to 14-22 overall on the season. SVSU will return to
action as they take on the #1 seed Wayne State University Warriors
in the first round of the 2010 GLIAC Tournament on Thursday (May 6)
at the VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. Game time is
scheduled for 3:00 pm.
