April 7, 2004
Baseball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CARDS POST 21 RUNS IN A DOUBLEHEADER GLIAC SWEEP OF VISITING NORTHWOOD

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The warm weather on Wednesday awoke the Saginaw Valley State bats in a sweep of Northwood with SVSU totaling 21 runs on the afternoon. The Cards were 11-1 victors in game one smacking 12 hits as every starter tallied a hit and the Cardinals scored in all six innings. Senior Mike Crawford (Lake Orion, Mich.) connected on two homers (2,3) and drove in three runs in game one. He blasted a solo homer to left field in the fourth inning and followed that with a two-run bomb to center field in the bottom of the sixth. SVSU built an 8-0 lead before NU tallied a run in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Steve Liebrecht (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) got the start and improved to 2-2 with five innings of work allowing no runs and five hits. Sophomore Jim Kelly (Lake Orion, Mich.) threw two innings in relief and struck out two. Junior third baseman Justin Hanning (Lake Orion, Mich.) went 3-for-3 in the ninth spot with a run scored and an RBI double (3) in the fifth inning. Freshman Danny Patterson (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) and freshman Chris Hanna (Caledonia, Mich.) each drove in two runs and collected a double.
    The offense continued in a 10-6 game two victory which featured 10 SVSU hits. The Cardinals defeated previously unbeaten Matt Fahr (5-1) by scoring single runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Fahr went 4.2 innings and allowed four earned runs. Freshman Jeff Schulz (Detroit, Mich./Catholic Central) improved to 3-2 on the mound with six solid innings. He walked three and struck out two and gave up one earned run. The Timberwolves scored five runs in the top of the seventh to narrow the gap against Scott Schlaff (Warren, Mich./Mott) who allowed two earned runs in his one inning. Senior Adam Piggott (Sarnia, Ont.) drove in four runs, including a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning. Piggott was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Junior Jon Straus (Beal City, Mich.) tied for the team lead with his fourth homer of the season. His solo shot in the second inning opened the scoring. Straus went 2-for-3 with three RBI's and a walk.
    The Cardinals (14-16, 7-7 GLIAC) will host Gannon in a doubleheader on Friday from the SVSU Baseball Field beginning at 1:00 pm.

Contact: Ryan Thompson (989) 964-4053

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