FINDLAY, Ohio – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team swept Findlay in a doubleheader on the road on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals (10-8) used four runs in the sixth inning of game one to earn a 6-2 win before completing the sweep in a high-scoring game two, 14-9.
GAME 1: SVSU 6 – Findlay 2
Findlay jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first inning after the second batter walked to get on base. A double to left center on the next at-bat scored the first run of the game.
Mya Purdy (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) knotted things up in the second inning with her first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.
The Oilers retook the lead, 2-1, with a solo home run to left center field in the home half of the third.
Kenzie Bromley (Petoskey, Mich. / Petoskey HS) made it three home runs in a row with a solo homer to left center in the fourth inning that tied the score at two runs apiece.
Ella Schneider (Southfield, Mich. / Berkley HS) hit a single up the middle to lead off the sixth inning by getting on base for the Cardinals. Purdy singled to put two on before Bromley walked to load the bases for Ella Reifschneider (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville HS). Reifschneider hits a double to right center to score all three to take the 5-2 lead with no outs. A Findlay error scored Reifschneider for the final run of the game.
Reifschneider led the way for SVSU, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored. Purdy was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in game one. Aalana Kimble (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood HS), Emma Helvie (Markle, Ind. / Huntington North HS), Schneider, and Bromley each finished with a hit.
Kimble (W, 5-3) got the start in the circle for the Cardinals. She went the full seven innings and finished with four strikeouts while allowing six hits and two earned runs.
GAME 2: SVSU 14 – Findlay 9
Helvie got things going with a two-run home run to center field in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead. Purdy stole second, and a throwing error by the Findlay catcher allowed Bromley to swipe home for a 3-0 advantage going into the home-half of the inning.
Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out for the Oilers. A double to left field put two runs on the board for UF, and a sacrifice fly tied things at three on the ensuing at-bat. The Oilers took a one-run lead after an infield single scored another before the game progressed.
Helvie struck again in the second with a single up the middle that scored Natalie Savage (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS) to tie things up at four. Bromley singled to left center two batters later to score Jenna Morse (Bay City, Mich. / Bay City Central HS), and SVSU sat on top 5-4.
A solo home run to left center in the bottom of the second tied the game for Findlay, and the score would remain there until the fourth.
Schneider homered to left field in the top half to go up 6-5, but Findlay responded with its own solo shot to center field in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game again.
The Cardinals pulled away in the fifth with five runs on two hits. The first run came on a fielder's choice play that didn't result in an out, as there was a throwing error that scored Kate Pnacek (Coleman, Mich. / Coleman HS) and Reifschneider with no outs.
Olivia Elliott (Baroda, Mich. / Berrien Springs HS) pinch hit for Faith Maloney (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota HS) and singled to center field to bring Savage across the plate for the 8-6 lead. Helvie then doubled to right center to score Kimble, and the Cardinals were up by three runs.
Emily Schmeltz (Union, Ky. / Cooper HS) walked to load the bases, and Purdy walked right after her to score Helive for the 11-6 lead through four and a half frames.
Findlay tallied two runs in the sixth off a dropped fly ball by SVSU to trail 11-8 with just one inning remaining.
Savage doubled to left center to score Pnacek, Reifschneider, and Schneider for three more runs to end the scoring for SVSU on the afternoon.
A lead-off home run to right center added one last run for the home team, but the Cardinals got the final three outs to preserve the lead and secure the win.
Helvie led offensively in game two with three hits and a career-high five RBI. Helvie was a triple away from completing the cycle in the contest and finished the day with 4-for-9. Schneider (2-for-3) and Savage (2-for-5) finished with two hits each. Schneider recorded a home run and Savage a double with three RBI to contribute to the win. Morse, Elliott, Bromley, Purdy, Reifschneider, and Pnacek recorded a hit.
Macy Irelan (W, 4-4) got the start in the circle and went the distance with four strikeouts in the game. She surrendered 12 hits and seven earned runs in the winning effort.
UP NEXT: The Cardinals open league play on Saturday, March 21, on the road against Ferris State at 1:00 p.m. (ET).