UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team split a wild doubleheader to close the team's first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series of the year against Davenport University Saturday at the SVSU Baseball Complex.

The Cardinals scored nine runs in the third inning of game one to rally for a 10-8 win, the first GLIAC victory for SVSU this season, in game one. The series finale saw 42 total runs scored, as the Panthers scored four or more in five separate innings in route to a 27-15 win in eight innings, splitting the doubleheader.

The split moves SVSU to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the GLIAC this season.

In game one, Davenport jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first and led 7-1 heading to the bottom of the third. The Cardinal offense erupted for nine runs in the third, including RBIs from Tony Paperd, Andrew Burke, and Connor McClennen. The inning was highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Martin Money, putting the Cardinals in front for good.

Chase Gruno (1-0) got the win in relief, tossing two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk, and striking out one. Hunter Merillat earned a two-inning save, his first of the season.

Game two had a similar start to the first as Davenport scored four in the first and two in the second before SVSU rallied with six in the third to tie the score. This time, the Panthers answered, recording, four in the fourth, four in the sixth, six in the seventh, and seven in the eighth, falling one run shy of the GLIAC record for runs scored in a game.

Money finished with three hits, two runs, and two RBIs to lead the Cardinals. Hayden Jatczak added two hits, two runs, and three RBIs, while McClennen finished with two hits and three runs. Starter Christopher Schmees (0-1) was charged with the loss on the mound.

SVSU hits the road for four games at the University of Wisconsin Parkside starting at 4 pm Friday in Kenosha, Wis.