MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split its final two games in Florida on Sunday. The Cardinals (4-2) fell 10-6 to Bentley to start the day before earning a second win over No. 23 Barry, 5-2, to finish off the opening weekend of the regular season.
Game 1: Bentley 10 – SVSU 6
Olivia Elliott (Baroda, Mich.) got things going early with a home run to deep left field that scored Ella Reifschneider (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville HS) in the bottom of the first inning to give the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead.
SVSU added to the lease in the second with a base loaded walk to score Kate Pnacek (Coleman, Mich. / Coleman HS) and put the lead at three runs. Mya Purdy (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) then hit a single to short that scored Natalie Savage (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS) and double the Cardinal lead to 4-0 after two frames.
The Falcons (1-5) responded with a five-run fourth inning to move in front by a run. A walk and two singles loaded the bases before two more walks scored runs for Bentley. A single to center field and and a wild pitch scored three more runs and just like that the Falcons led 5-4 after four innings of play.
The lead was extended in the sixth inning when the bases were loaded once more before back-to-back singles scored two more runs for Bentley. A three-run double down the left field line added more and the Falcons were up 10-4 through six.
The Cardinals tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, but could only muster two runs in the final frame. Reifschneider led things off with an infield single to get on base. Purdy followed suit with a single up the middle that put Reifschneider in scoring position. Elliott then doubled to left center to score Reifschneider and move Purdy to third base. Ella Schneider (Southfiled, Mich. / Berkley HS) hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Purdy, but Bentley was able to get the last two outs before SVSU could complete the comeback.
Elliott (2-for-4) led SVSU with two hits, one home run, and three RBI. Purdy (2-for-4) also had two hits while scoring a run and bringing in another. Aalana Kimble (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood HS), Reifschneider (1-for-2, 2 runs), Lillia Sherman (Millington, Mich. / Huntington North HS), and Pnacek (1-for-4,1 run) recorded a hit for the Cardinals.
Grace Schloop (L, 0-1) (Midland, Mich. / Midland HS) got her first start in the circle for SVSU. She went 3.2 innings and surrendered four hits, five runs, and tallied three strikeouts. Delaney Conley (Gladwin, Mich. / Gladwin HS), Elliott, and Makenzie Cammenga (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville Unity Christian HS) all pitched in relief.
Game 2: SVSU 5 – Barry 2
Elliott got the scoring going again in game two with a single to right center field that brough Purdy home and gave SVSU the 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Purdy scored again in the fourth inning after she led off the frame with a walk to get on base. Faith Maloney (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota HS) singled down the right field line to bring Purdy home and double the Cardinal lead to 2-0.
The lead extended in the fifth inning when Kimble doubled through the right side to score Savage in the second at-bat of the inning. Reifschneider brought Kimble home on the next play with a single right center field. Emma Helvie (Markle, Ind. / Huntington North HS) would score Reifschneider on a two-out, single to left field to put the score at 5-0, Cardinals.
The Buccaneers (4-8) hit a home run to center field in the sixth and scored another run on a single through the left side in the seventh to put the score at 5-2 where it would go final.
Reifschneider (2-for-4) led the way for SVSU with two hits, a run, and an RBI in the game. Kimble (1-for-4), Elliott (1-for-4), Helvie (1-for-3), and Maloney (1-for-1) recorded a hit. Kimble added a run and an RBI. Elliott, Helvie, and Maloney tallied an RBI.
Kimble (W, 3-0) earned her third win in the circle, all coming off complete game performances. She surrendered five hits and two runs while striking out seven batters to get the decision.
UP NEXT: The Cardinals will get a few weeks off before returning to Florida on March 1 for a doubleheader matchup against Palm Beach Atlantic. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (ET).