Grand Valley Nips SVSU

April 03, 2001

UNIVERSITY CENTER – Defending GLIAC champion Grand Valley State University has had Saginaw Valley Statete University's number the last two season and the number is "1." As in one-run victories over the Lady Cardinals. The No. 14-ranked Lakers took a pair of one-run decisions at SVSU Tuesday, winning by scores of 1-0 and 2-1, and have won the last four meetings between the two schools by the same margin. Grand Valley scored the only run of the first game in the second inning on a leadoff single by Erin Burgess and a two-out double by Kelly Burt. Freshman Christina Fuciarelli (Washington/Harper Woods Regina) pitched a brilliant game, but fell to 1-3 with the loss. She gave up five hits and a walk, while striking out one. Fuciarelli retired the final 10 Lakers in order. SVSU had just four hits and two walks, but twice had a runner in scoring position with less than two outs. Amber Castonguay improved to 10-1 with the win for GVSU, striking out seven and walking two. The nightcap featured another pitchers duel. Junior right-hander Carrie Shay (Flint/Burton Bendle) worked in and out of jams as the Lakers had scoring chances in four of the first five innings. The Cardinals managed only three hits, but two came in the sixth when they scored their only run. Senior Tiffany Martin (Flushing) led off with a single and freshman Leya Taylor (Saginaw/Michigan Lutheran Seminary) pinch ran. Junior April Vega (Essexville/Garber) delivered a two-out RBI double. Grand Valley answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, both coming home on a bases loaded double by Bobbi Conner. Shay gave up five hits and four walks, while striking out one, dropping to 1-6, while freshman Jennifer Mackson improved to 9-0.

Grand Valley raised its record to 5-1 in the GLIAC and 26-1-1 overall. SVSU fell to 7-11 overall and 1-3 in the league.

The Cardinals have their next 20 games on the road, beginning this weekend with GLIAC double headers at the University of Findlay Friday, at Ashland University Saturday and at Hillsdale College on Sunday.