WARRIORS FALL TO SAGINAW VALLEY CARDINALS IN SINGLE NINE

SAGINAW, Mich. - The Warriors fell to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 15-5 on Tuesday. After a tight first five innings, an 11-run stretch by the Cardinals proved costly for the Warriors in what was otherwise a solid game. Catcher Aidan Alspaugh posted two runs on two hits in the matchup to lead RCU. 

THE RUNDOWN

The Warriors took a 2-0 lead out of the first inning thanks to a Jack LaRue double to left field, logging two RBIs on the hit to run in Aidan Alspaugh and Tony Grazioli. The Warriors got three quick outs to end the first inning, but the Cardinals struck back in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on two singles to advance runners. The Warriors got out of the inning with one left on base. 

The Warriors put up a big defensive stand in the bottom of the third inning, with first baseman Dakota Shafer getting a popout catch in foul territory to end a bases-loaded situation for the Cardinals. The Warriors remained scoreless in the fourth, and the Cardinals added another run on a sacrifice fly to left field. The Warriors got another stop in the fifth inning, with Colin Powers striking out a Cardinal batter. 

The sixth inning was costly for the Warriors, with 11 runs given up thanks to two errors that kept the Cardinals at bat. Multiple walks helped the Cardinals take advantage of the bases being loaded, and the Warriors found themselves down 15-2 after the inning's end. In the eighth inning, RCU recouped some of the runs, with Alspaugh scoring on a wild pitch before a double down the left field line by Brendan DeFlorio to score Lucas Bateman. Shafer tacked on a third run in the inning with a single to right center. RCU couldn't close the gap in the top of the ninth. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors return to WHAC play, hosting the Madonna Crusaders at Oakland University Baseball Field on Saturday, Mar. 29. The first game of the doubleheader kicks off at 11 a.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: RCU Baseball