In their first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) games of the 2023 season, Saginaw Valley State University’s baseball team hosted Purdue University Northwest.
The Cardinals (10-9, 2-0) emerged victorious in the doubleheader against The Pride (4-12, 0-2), winning 7-1 and 3-2.
On Friday, SVSU’s starting pitchers were in the spotlight. Game one starter Tyler McLaren (W, 4-0) threw a complete game in the seven-inning opener.
In game two, Hunter Merillat (W, 3-0) pitched eight scoreless innings, setting a season record for the longest appearance by a Cardinal.
McLaren received early run support as SVSU scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Jaccar Watkins singled, stole second, and scored on a throwing error after Tucker Roe’s sacrifice bunt.
Colin Cornwell walked, followed by Martin Money’s RBI fielder’s choice. Scheurer added another RBI fielder’s choice to make it 3-0.
In the second, Roe scored another run with an RBI groundout.
Colin Cornwell then extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a two-run double in the fourth, making it 6-0.
Roe notched his second RBI in the sixth, offering more support for McLaren and the Cardinals.
The Pride scored once in the seventh, but McLaren limited the damage, pitching seven innings and allowing just one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts.
Sam Shively (L, 0-3) pitched all six innings for Purdue Northwest, conceding seven runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks.
Game two began slowly for SVSU, with five scoreless innings before the Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Cornwell reached base after being hit by a pitch, and Money walked.
A wild pitch put both in scoring position before Austin Schweiger’s single drove them home. Schweiger advanced to third on the throw and later scored on an error to make it 3-0.
Merillat allowed only three hits and struck out six during his eight innings on the mound.
SVSU has a 5-1 record when its starters pitch at least six innings.
The Pride fought back in game two.
Reed Raymond (Sv, 3), SVSU’s only relief pitcher, initially struggled, walking two batters and hitting another to load the bases.
Raymond struck out one batter before allowing a two-run single, putting the tying run just 90 feet away.
The next batter grounded back to Raymond, who initiated a double play to end the game.
Up next, the Cardinals travel to Detroit to take on Wayne State Univeristy. The game will be on Tuesday, March 28
The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
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