ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team dropped a pair of contests on Day 2 of the Russ Matt Invitational against Rockhurst University. The Cardinals fell by a 7-2 count in game one, followed by a 3-2 decision in the second game. SVSU falls to 1-3 on the season with the losses.
Game 1
Rockhurst plated one run in the top of the first before a Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) RBI ground out scored Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS) to bring the Cardinals even with the Hawks 1-1 after one inning.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) drew a walk to bring Chet LaFave (Charlotte, Mich./Olney Central College) home and give SVSU a 2-1 advantage.
Saginaw Valley starting pitcher Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) started off the new campaign with four scoreless innings before giving up four runs in the fifth inning as Rockhurst went on to victory, 7-2. Beauchaine gave up five runs, three earned, on four hits and six strikeouts in five innings of work while picking up the loss.
Mike VanAlst (Clio, Mich.) recorded a pair of singles for the Cardinals in the loss.
Game 2
Saginaw Valley faced a 3-0 deficit after four innings of play in game two of the double-header at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg. Cam Wiechmann (Birch Run, Mich./Muskegon CC) put the Cardinals on the scoreboard with a single through the left side to plate Brandon Schwanz (Novi, Mich./Henry Ford CC), who reached on a single earlier in the inning.
Freshman Brad Schalk (Madison Heights, Mich./Bishop Foley HS) brought SVSU within one run of the Hawks as he recorded an RBI ground out to score O'Boyle in the top of the sixth.
However, the Cardinals were unable to continue their rally in the final two innings and fell by a final score of 3-2.
Mike Saunders (Mt. Morris, Mich./E.A. Johnson HS) picked up the loss after throwing a complete game, while allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and seven strikeouts.
VanAlst picked up two more hits for the Cardinals on the evening.
Saginaw Valley will return to action on Monday (Mar. 5) when they take on Maryville University (Mo.) at 6:00 PM in Auburndale, Fla.
