UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team earned two close wins over Parkside to improve to 8-0 in GLIAC play. The Cardinals (18-8, 8-0 GLIAC) survived game one with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to hold on for the 5-4 win. Game two was a 2-0 shutout win for SVSU to complete the sweep of the Rangers (11-19, 2-6 GLIAC).
GAME ONE: SVSU 5 – Parkside 4
Mya Purdy (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea HS) gave the Cardinals the early 1-0 lead after her RBI single up the middle scored Aalana Kimble (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood HS).
The score would remain there for the next three innings before Kate Pnacek (Coleman, Mich. / Coleman HS) hit a three-run homer in the fourth that bounced off the top of the center field fence to push the lead to 4-0, SVSU.
Parkside responded with two home runs in the top of the fifth that knotted things up at four runs each.
A dropped fly ball to center field with runners in the corners scored Evelynn Rybicki (Freeland, Mich. / Freeland HS) to give the Cardinals the 5-4 lead with three outs needed to secure the win.
Two walks to start the top of the seventh had two Rangers on base with no outs when freshman Makenzie Cammenga (Hudsonville, Mich. / Hudsonville Unity Christian HS) entered the circle in a save opportunity. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. She then forced a groundout to third and then another to herself to secure her first career save.
Seven Cardinals recorded a hit in the win, with Pnacek leading the way with her three RBI outing. Kimble recorded a double, and Purdy picked up an RBI. Kimble made her 12th start in the circle for SVSU. She went five innings and recorded two strikeouts while giving up five hits and four runs. Delaney Conley (Gladwin, Mich. / Gladwin HS) (W, 2-0) entered in relief in the sixth inning and struck out one Ranger before Cammenga entered for her save.
GAME TWO: SVSU 2 – Parkside 0
SVSU had runners in scoring position in the first three innings, with the Cardinals loading the bases in the third, but they couldn't capitalize on those opportunities.
SVSU broke the deadlock in the fifth inning when Lillia Sherman (Millington, Mich. / Millington HS) singled up the middle to score Purdy for the 1-0 lead.
Olivia Elliott (Baroda, Mich. / Berrien Springs HS) entered as a pinch hitter with one out in the frame and hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Emily Beckas (Troy, Mich. / Avondale HS) from second base to double up the Cardinal advantage.
The Rangers didn't get runners in scoring position until the seventh inning when Isabel Aranda reached third with two outs. However, the SVSU defense recorded a popout to third base during the next at-bat to seal the shutout win and secure the sweep.
Kimble (2-for-2) and Sherman (2-for-3) combined for all four of the Cardinals' hits, with Sherman also recording an RBI. Macy Irelan (W, 7-4) earned her seventh win with a six-strikeout performance. She surrendered just three hits and walked two for her eighth complete game and fourth shutout victory of the season.
UP NEXT: The Cardinals will hit the road to Hammond, Indiana for a GLIAC doubleheader against Purdue Northwest on Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. (ET).
