SVSU BASEBALL

March 1, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cardinals Have Hit Parade FT. MYERS, FL – The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team is playing like the No. 26 ranked team in the nation, rolling to an 18-7 win over Milwaukee School of Engineering, Thursday. The Cardinals posted their fourth straight win to improve to 5-1 after dumping a 19-hit barrage on the Raiders, who fell to 0-6. "It was an ugly win," said Cardinal coach Walt Head. "We had a 10 or 12 run lead and then got sloppy." Junior Justin Garcia (Bay City/Western) had a two-run homer in the third inning and added a two-run single to pace the Cardinal offense that has scored 71 runs in six games. Sophomore Eric Jenks (Clarkston) slammed a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Three Cardinals had multiple-hit games, including senior All-American Jason Valenzuela (Ontario, CA/Damien), who had a double, triple, and a walk, driving in a run and scoring three times. Senior Zac Zdenahlik (Coloma) had three hits and an RBI, and junior Mike Condon (Utica) had a double, single and an RBI. Sophomore Zach Nagtzaam (Ithaca) chipped in a double and junior Scott Head (Montrose) had a two-run double in the sixth inning. "(Garcia) hit the ball better today," said Head, "but I'm disappointed in our pitching. Other than our top three or four pitchers, we're having trouble getting people out." Freshman right-hander Mike Crawford (Lake Orion) started for SVSU and worked three and one-third innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out four. Freshman righty Heath Craven (Hartland) was the fourth Cardinal to take the mound and picked up his first collegiate win. He worked a scoreless inning and a third without allowing a hit and struck out two, while walking one and hitting a batter. Sophomore right-hander Adam Campbell (London, Ontario/St. Thomas Aquinas) gave up a couple of hits in the final inning, but wound up striking out the side. The Cardinals have two important games Friday against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference foes Mansfield University at 4 p.m. and against Lock Haven University at 7 p.m. Lock Haven was an NCAA regional participant last season. "We'll find out tomorrow where we're at," said Head.

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