April 17, 2005
Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIEBRECHT HURLS SHUTOUT IN GAME TWO AS SVSU SWEEPS MERCYHURST

ERIE, Pa. - Junior Steve Liebrecht (Saginaw Heritage HS) blanked Mercyhurst over seven innings in a 2-0 win in game two on Sunday as SVSU also won 8-7 in game one taking three out of four contests over the weekend against the Lakers. Liebrecht allowed four hits and improved to 3-3 as he also fanned four hitters and walked one. Fellow starter Eric Drobotij tossed a four-hitter as well and fanned eight Cardinals, but SVSU pushed two runs across in the top of the fourth inning for the game's only runs. After two strikeouts to start the fourth, Dale Marsden (Sarnia, Ont./Northern Collegiate) singled to center to begin the rally. Brandon Fanion (Marysville, Mich.) followed with a walk on a full count which set up senior shortstop Chris Norton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) who singled up the middle driving in Marsden. Senior Joe Funsch (Clio, Mich.) on the next at-bat singled to center scoring Fanion for the 2-0 lead. Fanion finished the game with a single and two walks. Norton and Funsch were both 1-for-3 with an RBI.
      Saginaw Valley claimed a big win in game one as they scored two runs in the top of the sixth to give them the one-run victory. Junior Elijah Martin (Imlay City, Mich.) pitched 2.1 innings of no-hit ball to improve to 3-2 as he struck out one and filled in for starter Ryan Reid (Sarnia, Ont.) and reliever Aaron Dorgan (Jackson, Mich.). Reid went 3.1 innings and surrendered four earned runs and 10 hits. Dorgan pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two earned runs and four hits. Mercyhurst led 4-1 after three innings as both teams traded the lead over the next three innings. SVSU had a three-run fifth inning which featured a two-run double by Fanion which scored Justin Hanning (Lake Orion, Mich.) and Reed Welker (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's). The Cards also had two unearned runs in the sixth inning as Welker reached on an error which allowed Norton to score the tying run. Hanning bounced out to second base and as the play continued an error by first baseman Tim Echan allowed Welker to score the winning run. Junior Justin Doughty (Oscoda, Mich.) was 2-for-3 with a run and walk. Fanion went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
     Saginaw Valley (25-9, 13-5 GLIAC) will go out of conference for a nine-inning game at home against Calvin College on Tuesday, April 19 beginning at 4:00 pm.

Game 1, Game 2

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053

##SVSU#