UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team traveled to Ashland University for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Tuesday in Ashland, Ohio.
The Cardinals dominated game one, rolling to an 8-0 win in five innings. After Ashland took a 5-1 lead in game two, SVSU rallied to take a 6-5 advantage with three runs in the seventh. Ashland tied the game in the bottom of the inning setting the stage for a three-run home run from Kael Prickett in the eighth to lift the Cardinals to a 9-6 win.
The sweep pushes the SVSU win streak to four games and improves the team record to 23-12 overall and 12-10 in the GLIAC.
In game one, the Cardinals scored once in the first, three in the second, and four in the third, cruising to the victory. After Leah Denome drove home the game's first run in the first on a sacrifice fly, SVSU got RBI singles from Shelby Misiak, Sabrina Sage, and Jackie Popko in the second.
Sage added another RBI single in the third, followed by a two-run single for Popko. The Cardinals executed a double steal for the final run of the game as Sarah Gersch stole home.
Emily Depew (7-1) earned her third complete-game shutout in four days, pitching all five innings, allowing two hits, and striking out 11.
Meagan VerVaecke got the scoring started in game two with a solo home run in the second, but Ashland scored five unanswered runs to move in front 5-1. SVSU cut the deficit in half in the fourth, taking advantage of an Eagle error and getting an RBI single from Sage.
Shelby Misiak got the rally started in the seventh win an RBI single and Sage tied the score later in the inning with an RBI. With the bases loaded, Popko was hit by a pitch to put SVSU up 6-5.
Ashland tied the score in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings where Prickett drove home three runs on a home run in the eighth for the Cardinals.
Alyssa Muench (3-2) got the win on the mound, tossing 5.1 innings in relief, allowing one run on six hits, walking one, and striking out 11.
The Cardinals return home to take on Wayne State University at 1 pm Saturday at the SVSU Softball Complex.