Softball Splits Becoming Routine for SVSU
Feb. 26, 2001

FT. MYERS, FL – The Saginaw Valley State University softball team split a pair of games for the third straight day, Monday, losing 6-5 to Capital University, OH, and beating NCAA Division I University at Albany, NY, by a 9-4 margin. "We let another one get away," said coach Fred Neering. "We should be 5-1 right now, but we're making too many mistakes that are costing us." Junior right-hander Carrie Shay (Flint/Burton Bendle) took the loss, allowing a two-out, three-run homer to Rikki Jones in the bottom of the seventh inning. Shay fell to 0-2, giving up nine hits and two walks, while striking out five. "Carrie struck out Jones the two previous at bats, then she cleared the left field fence," said Neering, whose Cardinals had built a 5-1 sixth-inning lead. SVSU scored four runs in third inning. Freshman Jesse Kaniszewski (Kingston) singled and junior Brandi Srda (Clio) doubled and both scored on a single by junior Whitney Babcock (Bay City/All Saints). Senior Jocelyn Gubancsik (Burton/Flint Kearsley) capped the inning with an RBI single. Junior Becky Bourcier (Montrose) hit a solo homer for SVSU in the sixth. Kaniszewski went 3-for-3 and stole four bases, while Babcock was 2-for-4. "Kaniszewski had a day today," said Neering. "She was our bright spot." The Lady Cardinals continued their scoring barrage in the second game. The put up two runs in the second on singles by sophomore Kelly Martin (Bay City/All Saints) and Gubancsik, and a two-run single by junior April Vega (Essexville/Garber). They added three more in the fourth on single by senior Libby Poellet (Frankenmuth), an error, a two-run single by Kaniszewski and an RBI single by Srda. Srda led off the sixth with a double and scored on Babcock's single. Martin drove in the final run with a ground out. Srda was 3-for-4, and Vega and Babcock each went 2-for-3. Freshman righty Courtney Pintek (Flushing) has all three SVSU victories after allowing six hits and four walks, while striking out four in the complete-game win. "They had a tight strike zone, but she was never in big trouble," said Neering. "It seemed like they had base runners in every inning, but she worked out of it." SVSU is 3-3 overall and may have just one game Tuesday afternoon against Wartburg College, IA, at 1 p.m.