Comeback win Saturday leads Cards to a split weekend series in Grand Valley

March 31, 2008 —

The Cardinals went into the weekend searching for their first conference win of the season, and found two big ones, splitting their weekend series with Grand Valley.

Ranked number three nationally, the Lakers were taken to the limit by the Cardinals on Saturday, but edged them out in two one-run victories.

The Cards and Lakers traded runs early, with the game reaching a 3-3 tie in the top of the fourth, where the Cardinals scored two runs on RBIs from junior second baseman Kevin Schwedler and sophomore shortstop Kevin Schwedler.

The game was forced into extra frames, with the Lakers winning on an RBI single from junior outfielder Matt Nickels.

Senior pitcher Scott Roy struck out 13 batters over eight innings, leaving the game with the score tied, but did not take the loss.

The Lakers jumped on the Cardinals early in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, going ahead by as much as 7-3 in the fifth inning. The Cardinals staged a rally in the sixth and seventh innings, but came up short, falling 7-6.

The Cardinals fortunes turned on Sunday, coming from behind in both games to score a sweep in the second doubleheader of the weekend.

In game one, sophomore lefty Andrew Doyle pitched a complete game, tallying 12 strikeouts and 10 walks, allowing only one earned run.

Senior catcher Max Bell batted in three runs, while Schwedler hit his first home run of the season, en route to a 7-5 victory.

Down 3-1 heading into the seventh inning, Bell hit a two-RBI double to tie the game 3-3, and extend the game to extra innings.

In the top of the ninth, the Cardinals put together a four-run rally off Schwedler's home run the last of Bell's three RBIs, an RBI single from sophomore outfielder Charlie Thomas and an RBI single from senior first baseman Brandon Fanion.

The second game of the doubleheader also needed an extra frame, and again saw the Cards stage a comeback, as they fell behind 5-1, before scoring five unanswered runs to come away with the doubleheader sweep.

The split series brings the Cardinals record to 13-6 (2-2 GLIAC).

Next weekend, the Cardinals return home to play a four game series with Mercyhurst, with Friday's games beginning at 12 p.m. and Saturday's beginning at 1 p.m.