UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team opened the final home series of the season, hosting Purdue University Northwest Saturday at the SVSU Baseball Complex.

The Cardinals took the lead in the fifth and held on the rest of the way in a quick 9-inning 6-4 win over the Pride. The victory pushes SVSU to 15-10 overall and 10-7 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Hayden Jatczak got the scoring started in the first with an RBI single to center. PNW took its only lead of the game with a run in the second and another in the fifth. The advantage was short-lived, as SVSU scored two in the bottom of the fifth with RBIs from Connor McClennen and Jatczak.

The Cardinals extended their lead with an RBI single from Martin Money in the seventh followed by another run on a single from Brandon Scheurer.

PNW scored one in the eighth to close the gap, but the Cardinals held on for the win.

Jatczak (4-2) got the win on the mound, tossing seven innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, walking one, and striking out five. Hunter Merillat got the two-inning save (3), allowing one hit and striking out five of the eight batters he faced.

The series continues with a doubleheader starting at 12:35 pm Sunday at the SVSU Baseball Complex. The game will be proceeded by a Senior Day ceremony set to begin shortly after 12 pm.