Baseball Splits Pair Of Extra-Inning Games At Saginaw Valley

UNIVERSITY CENTER, MICH. – The Northwood University baseball team split a pair of extra-inning games at Saginaw Valley State Sunday afternoon (May 1). The Timberwolves earned a 6-4 win in nine innings in game one before SVSU claimed a walk-off 1-0 win in nine innings in game two.

Northwood is now 23-21 overall, 13-13 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Saginaw Valley is now 18-26 overall, 10-16 in the GLIAC.

In game one, SVSU got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the second inning. The score remained that way until the fourth inning, when the Timberwolves put three runs on the board to go up 3-1. After the Cardinals came right back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the score remained 3-3 through the scheduled seven innings. Northwood put three runs in the ninth inning to go up 6-3. Saginaw Valley State got one back in the bottom of the inning and had the bases loaded with one out, but NU turned a double play to end the game.

SVSU out-hit Northwood 10-5 in the game, but Northwood drew six walks while Saginaw Valley had two walks. Both teams had one double in the game. NU left six runners on base compared to five for the Cardinals.

Miles Hardy (Lake Orion, Mich.) went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI to lead the way for Northwood. Richie O'Neil (Wheaton, Ill./College of DuPage) had a run scored and two RBIs, while Tanner McCarn (Olivet, Mich./Kellogg CC) had a key two-run pinch-hit single in the ninth inning. Logan Meadors (Oxnard, Calif./Midland Univ.) came out of the bullpen to pick up his third win of the season, allowing one unearned run in 1 1/3 innings of work. Matt Stojkov (Northville, Mich. /Saginaw Valley State) got the game-ending double-play to pick up his fifth save of the season. Kyle Vedrode (Alma, Mich./Muskegon CC) got a no decision despite pitching well. He allowed three runs on six hits while striking out four in six innings of work.

Both teams had numerous chances to score throughout game two, but the contest remained scoreless until the ninth inning. SVSU claimed the win thanks to a lead-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to earn the win.

Northwood finished with a 7-3 edge in hits in game two. Northwood left nine runners on base compared to six for Saginaw Valley. The game-ending home run was the lone extra-base hit of the game.

Grant Bridgewater (Bay City, Mich./Western/Lewis U.) led Northwood on the day by going 3-4 at the plate. O'Neil added two hits for the Timberwolves. Larry Wood (Essexville, Mich./Garber) was the starter for NU and threw well, allowing two hits in six innings of shutout work.

Northwood will host Alma in their final non-conference regular season game Tuesday (May 3). First pitch is set for 5 p.m.