April 10, 2005
Softball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lady Cards Back to .500 With GLIAC Sweep at Findlay

FINDLAY, Ohio - The Saginaw Valley State softball team used strong pitching and defense in a critical sweep at Findlay on Sunday, evening their GLIAC record at 4-4 and pushing their overall mark to 13-12. Sophomore Lorelea Rice (East Caledon, Ont./Mayfield Secondary) improved to 6-3 in the circle with a complete game, five-hit shutout in game one as SVSU claimed a 3-0 victory. Rice struck out seven Oilers and allowed no extra base hits. The Cardinals inched in front 1-0 in the top of the fifth as Rice drove in Emily Byram (Grand Rapids, Mich./Allendale) on a sacrifice fly to right field. Byram reached on an error to leadoff the inning and later stole second. SVSU increased their lead to 3-0 with two runs in the seventh. Holly Bruntjens (Gladstone, Mich.) pinch hit and singled to leadoff the inning. Sara Seronko (Gladstone, Mich.) re-entered the game to run and later scored on a passed ball. Rice batted in another run on a squeeze bunt as Findlay attempted to make a play at home plate on Katie Albert (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) who reached base on an error by the shortstop. Albert was 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead SVSU.
      The Cardinals claimed a 4-1 win in game two as SVSU scored twice in the first inning and the combination of Karen Ray (Fenton, Mich./Lake Fenton) and Lindsay Noren (South Lyon, Mich.) did the rest in the circle. Ray threw six innings and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Noren pitched the seventh and allowed one hit and no runs to earn her second save. Albert was the sparkplug in the first as she doubled with one out and advanced to third on a passed ball. Rice walked and stole second before Jamie Seaman (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) drove in a pair with a single to center. Seronko collected an RBI in the fourth inning as she got on base due to an error with two outs which scored Denise Betts (Harbor Springs, Mich.). Betts began the inning with a single to center. The Cards would add one more run in the sixth on a double steal which scored Nicole Shick (Montrose, Mich.).
     SVSU will play in their home debut after 25 games away from home on Friday, April 15 as they take on GLIAC opponent Hillsdale in a twinbill scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Game 1, Game 2
     

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053

##SVSU##