COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 25 Saginaw Valley State University softball team rebounded after its first loss of the season to sweep a round-robin series against West Liberty University and Ohio Dominican University Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

The Cardinals used a pair of three-run home runs to power past West Liberty in the opener 7-3. In the finale of the weekend trip, SVSU trailed by two runs heading to the seventh before the Cardinals erupted for five runs in the final frame against ODU to secure a 6-3 win.

The sweep pushes SVSU to 8-1 overall on the season.

After an error got the Cardinals on the board in the first against West Liberty, Sara Moos blasted a three-run home run, her first of the season, to stretch the lead to 4-0. Alexis Gills hit her first home run of the season, driving in three runs in the fifth to extend the lead to seven. West Liberty scratched out three runs in the seventh, but the comeback fell short.

Jaclyn Groves got the win on the mound for SVSU, tossing a complete game. She allowed three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five. Sabrina Sage and Gills each finished with two hits.

In the finale against the Panthers, Sage picked up an RBI in the third to give SVSU a 1-0 lead. ODU scored one in the third to tie the score and took a 3-1 lead with two more in the fifth.

The Cardinals rallied in their final at-bat, starting with an RBI double from Sarah Gersch. Sage tied the game with a sacrifice fly and Julia Salisbury put SVSU in front with an RBI single. Gills extended the advantage to three with her second home run of the day, a two-run shot.

Emily Depew got the start on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits, three walks, and struck out seven in five innings. Groves (3-0) got the win in relief, pitching two perfect innings and striking out one.

The Cardinals are in action next with a doubleheader at Cedarville University starting at 3 pm on March 19 in Cedarville, Ohio.