LAKELAND, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team split with the Rockhurst University Knights at the Russ Matt Invitational on Friday (3/11). The Cardinals took the opener by a slim 1-0 score before dropping the second game by a score of 7-4. The split puts SVSU at 4-5 overall on the season while Rockhurst now sits at 4-4 overall.
Game 1
There was no score through the first four innings, as SVSU starter Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) kept the Knight hitters off-balance. The Cardinals notched a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jason Potts (Hartland, Mich.) led-off with a double and was moved to third on a bunt single by Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS). Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) would then knock a single through the left side to score Potts. That's the only run the Cardinals would need, as they would close-out for the 1-0 victory.
Beauchaine worked five strong innings, scattering four hits and striking-out six. Justin Drzewicki (Bay City, Mich./Central HS) worked two scoreless innings of relief for the save.
Burt had a pair of hits in the opener while five other Cardinals posted a hit in the contest.
Game 2
The Cardinals jumped out front right away, as Matt Hunt (Howell, Mich./Concordia University) hit a sacrifice fly, which scored Burt.
Rockhurst answered with a run in the bottom of the first and would hold a 7-2 advantage after the sixth inning.
SVSU would answer with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning, but it wouldn't be enough as Rockhurst would close-out for the 7-4 win.
O'Boyle had a pair of hits in the nightcap, including his second home run of the season. Burt had a double and two RBI's in the contest as well, while Ryan Ermers (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II HS) and Drew Woock (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) each added a double. Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) recorded his first-career hit in the contest.
Mike Saunders (Mt. Morris, Mich./EA Johnson HS) took the loss in the second game on the mound.
The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow in a doubleheader against West Chester (Pa.). It will be the final two games for SVSU on its annual Spring trip.
