Cardinals’ Earn GLIAC Softball Championship

- Release courtesy of the Saginaw Valley State Sports Information Department

The Saginaw Valley State University softball team ended an 18-year drought as they captured their first GLIAC Championship since 1990. Saginaw Valley defeated Wayne State 3-2 for the automatic bid to the Great Lakes Regional tournament that is slated to begin Wednesday (May 6).

For the third straight game the Cardinals used a homerun in the top of the first to jump on top of Wayne State. Junior centerfielder Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes) took the one ball one strike pitch and placed it over the right field fence to give SVSU the early 1-0 advantage. From there Kari Bowlby (Elkhart, Ind./Central) held the Wayne State offense in check, as she threw four and two thirds innings, scattering five hits and allowing one run. She also struck out three batters on the afternoon.

Saginaw Valley would tack on two more runs in the top of the third when Wayne State pitcher Nicole Abel walked in Jordan Stuart (Richmond, Mich.) and Kaiser to give the Cards' the 3-0 lead.

Wayne State struck back with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Sarah Berry scored on a Sarah Teller single to left field. Wayne State second baseman Lisa Seymour cut the lead to 3-2 when she sent a Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) offering over the fence in left-center.

Saginaw Valley chased Wayne State's Abel in the top of the seventh after an Ashley Jordan (Freeland, Mich.) single down the right-field line and a Marsha Beaubien (Alpena, Mich.) double to right-center, but failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Fulton set the final three Warrior batters down to seal the championship and record her record setting eighth save on the season.

Saginaw Valley moves to 34-15 on the season and Wayne State falls to 33-16. The Great Lakes Regional Tournament teams will be announced later this evening (May 4).