DETROIT - Coming off a Sunday sweep over the Malone Pioneers, the Cardinal baseball team traveled to Detroit to square-off against the Wayne State University Warriros in a mid-week GLIAC doubleheader. The Cardinals dropped a pair of one run games, losting 7-6 in eight innings in the opener before falling 1-0 in the nightcap at the WSU Baseball Field.
Game One
Saginaw Valley went for six runs in the top of the sixth inning to take the 6-0 advantage. Kyle Randick hit a two-RBI double that plated Adam Fitzgibbon and Garrett Soule and Jordan Swiss would follow by knocking-in Brendan Harrison. A Greg Kazmierski RBI single scored Randick for the fourth run. Fitzbiggon would come up big then with a two-RBI single to push Swiss and Kazmierski across. Fitzgibbon had two hits in the opening frame.
The Warriors fought back and scored a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth inning to knot the score at 6-6.
Neither team threatened in the seventh and SVSU couldn't capitalize in the top of eight on a leadoff single from Kazmierski, as he was moved up to second on a Dylin Eschenburg sacrifice bunt and the inning moved to the bottom of the frame.
Wayne State loaded the bases with no outs to set up a great opportunity but SVSU reliever Max Ludka got the next batter to pop-out. An infield single from the Warriors's Sean Winkelseth wound ensue, however, pushing the winning run across for the 7-6 final.
Inside the Boxscore
- Fitzgibbon was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored.
- Swiss also collected three hits, adding an RBI and run as well.
- Kazmierski had two hits with a run and RBI.
- Randick (2B) had the only extra-base hit of the nine total for the Cardinals.
- Ludka (0-6) took the loss, as he worked the eighth inning and allowed a run on three hits.
- Scott Sency got the start on the hill. He allowed four runs on five hits, walking three and posting seven strikeouts.
Game Two
The first two and a half innings went scoreless and the Warriors scored a solo run in the bottom of the third to take the 1-0 edge. The home team got the run on a single, wild pitch and RBI double for the lead.
That would prove to be the game's only run, as the Cards couldn't convert on a couple of chances with runners in scoring position from there and Wayne State closed out for the one-run victory.
Inside the Boxscore
- SVSU had just three hits in the second game, with Fitzgibbon, Swiss and Blackwell each recording one of those.
- Eschenburg drew a pair of walks in the contest as well.
- Michael Ellenbest (4-3) took the loss in the start. He was solid in only allowing a single run on six hits, walking two and striking-out three batters.
Up Next...
The Cards (16-20, 8-10 GLIAC) travel to play at Hillsdale College this weekend. The teams play Saturday (Apr. 23) in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader before facing-off again on Sunday (Apr. 24) in a twinbill that is slated to begin at noon.
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