SVSU Splits Again
March 1, 2001

FT. MYERS, FL – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team has played four double headers on its spring trip to Florida and split every one. The Cardinals split a pair of shutouts Thursday, losing 5-0 to Alma College, then bouncing back with an 8-0 blanking of Adrian College. Junior right-hander Carrie Shay (Flint/Burton Bendle) fell to 0-4 on the trip, allowing all five Alma runs (4 earned) on five hits and a walk, while striking out two. Freshman Christina Fuciarelli (Washington/Harper Woods Regina) worked two shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit. Junior Whitney Babcock (Bay City/All Saints) had two of the five Cardinal hits, including a double. "She's played well for us down here," said Coach Fred Neering. "She's playing to her potential." Freshman right-hander Courtney Pintek (Flushing) raised her collegiate record to 4-1 with the complete-game, three-hit shutout of Adrian. She struck out only one, but did not issue a walk. The Cardinals got some help in scoring four runs in the second inning. Senior Jocelyn Gubancsik (Burton/Flint Kearsley) led off with a single, and sophomore Kate Tisdale (West Branch/Ogemaw Heights) walked. After a pair of wild pitches and another walk, freshman Jesse Kaniszewski (Kingston) delivered an RBI single. Gubancsik led off the third inning with a single and scored on a double by freshman Leya Taylor (Saginaw/Michigan Lutheran Seminary). Junior Michelle Huber (Yale) followed with an RBI single. "Kaniszewski is doing well and giving us great effort," said Neering, noting she went 2-for-3 and stole three bases. Gubancsik and Taylor also had two hits for SVSU. "Defensively, we played a lot better and turned a nice double play on the infield," said Neering. "Taylor did a nice job for us at shortstop and Becky Bourcier (Montrose) is giving us 200 percent." The Cardinals (4-5 overall) have a single game scheduled Friday at 11 a.m. against Wartburg College, IA, when they try to avenge an 8-3 loss on Tuesday.