HAMMOND, Ind. – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team opened the 2022 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season after a nearly two-week hiatus, taking on Purdue-Northwest in a doubleheader on Sunday in Hammond, Ind.

The Pride rallied for wins in both contests, topping the Cardinals 3-2 in game one in eight innings, and using a two-run home run in the sixth to push past SVSU 5-4 in the finale.

The losses drop SVSU to 14-10 overall and 0-2 in the GLIAC.

Game One Breakdown:

• The game remained scoreless until Blasia Moyler put SVSU up 1-0 with an RBI in the fourth, driving in Jackie Popko.
• The Cardinals made it 2-0 in the fifth with a solo home run.
• The Pride chipped away with a run in the fifth and tied it in the sixth at 2-2.
• After the game went to extra innings, the Pride found the winning run on an RBI in the eighth.
• Popko finished 2-3 with a run scored.
• Julia Mundy got the start on the mound. She pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits, walking three, and striking out five.
• Alyssa Muench (2-2) was charged with the loss in relief, pitching 2.2 innings, allowing two runs on four this, striking out four.

Game Two Breakdown:

• The Cardinals jumped in front with a run on a wild pitch in the second before Maddie Campagna made it 2-0 with a solo home run.
• The Pride tied the contest on a two-run home run in the fourth.
• Gersch and Sara Moos each recorded an RBI to put the Cardinals back in front 4-2.
• The Pride scored three times in the sixth, including a pinch-hit two-run home run from Sydney Siedentopf to put PNW back in front for good.
• Salisbury finished with two hits, while Moyler added a triple.
• Emily Depew (5-6) pitched all six innings for the Cardinals, allowing five runs on eight hits, walking three, and striking out seven.

Up Next:

The Cardinals will take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in a doubleheader on Monday. The matchup has been moved to 11 am CST at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill.