April 13, 2005
Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

KELLY THROWS GEM IN GAME TWO AS CARDINALS SPLIT WITH RIVAL NORTHWOOD

MIDLAND, Mich. – Junior Jim Kelly (Lake Orion, Mich.) got the nod for his first start of the season after five apperances in relief this season in game two of a doubleheader with Northwood on Wednesday and delivered a clutch performance in a 3-1 win. Kelly rallied the troops after a 5-2 game one defeat and kept the Timberwolves guessing at the plate. He pitched a complete game and allowed two hits, one earned run, two walks and struck out three T-Wolves improving to 1-0.
     Saginaw Valley State was sluggish in game one after a recent three wins in four games against rival Grand Valley State. SVSU committed three errors not helping the cause of starting pitcher Steve Liebrecht (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage). The T-Wolves used two of those errors to their advantage in a two-run fifth inning which increased a 3-2 lead to 5-2. Liebrecht went six innings and struck out four, but did have minor control problems issuing five walks - doubling his season total in four previous starts. Liebrecht allowed four earned runs and fell to 2-2. SVSU was ahead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third when Northwood scored three times. The key play was a two-run triple by Matt Shields and as Shields was sliding into third base an errant throw by shortstop Chris Norton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) hit Shields while on the bag and bounced into the dugout which advanced Shields home. Senior Justin Hanning (Lake Orion, Mich.) and freshman Reed Welker (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's) each collected a double and Hanning scored both Cardinal runs. SVSU stranded nine runners and freshman Brandon Fanion (Marysville, Mich.) swiped his sixth base and went 1-for-4.
     The Cardinals got to NU starter Andy Rivard in the first inning of game two as senior Dan Jones (Gladstone, Mich.) singled up the middle scoring Jason Burghardt (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) who walked to open the game. After NU tied it 1-1 in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the fifth. Sophomore designated hitter Danny Patterson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) roped a double down the left field line which rolled to the fence and scored Jones from first base. Norton on the next at-bat singled to center field which scored Patterson. Patterson reached base on two walks and was 1-for-2 with his third double. Fanion was 2-for-3 with two singles to right center and took over the team lead with a .388 batting average. The T-Wolves left runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh as Kelly struck out Mike Viselli for the final out.
     SVSU (19-6, 10-4 GLIAC) remains in second place in the conference and travels to Mercyhurst College on Saturday and Sunday for a pair of twinbills with the Lakers.

Game 1 , Game 2

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053

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