On Saturday, the Purdue Northwest baseball team split a competitive GLIAC doubleheader against Saginaw Valley State at the University Center in Michigan. A clutch two-run single from Doug Loden (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) and a dominant start by Conor Pangburn (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) propelled the Pride to a gritty 2-1 win in Game One, while a late rally in Game Two forced extra innings before Purdue Northwest ultimately fell 5-4 on a walk-off in the 10th.
 
The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (17-26), Saginaw Valley (28-20)
• Location: University Center, Michigan
• GLIAC Conference Game

The Breakdown
Game One: W (2-1) – 7 Innings

• Doug Loden (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) came through in the seventh with a two-run single through the left side, delivering what turned out to be the game-winning hit.
• Brady Wall (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton Christian) and Brayden Barrett (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) each crossed the plate in the frame, with Wall scoring the tying run.
• Jax Kalemba (Chicago, Ill./Andrean) reached base and advanced to second before being thrown out at third during the play that plated both runs.
• Drake Ballard (Louisville, Ky./Martha Laynes Collins) recorded a hit and stole a base, contributing to the Pride's pressure on the basepaths.
• Dan Puplava (Portage, Ind./Portage) added a hit, while Barrett and Kalemba each tallied one as well.
• AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) and Joey Guiliano (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) were both hit by pitches, helping extend key innings.
• Conor Pangburn (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) was excellent on the mound, throwing 7.0 strong innings while allowing just one run on four hits and striking out two to earn the win.
• The Pride defense backed him with error-free baseball and three double plays.
• Saginaw Valley struck first in the fourth inning with an RBI single by A. Cicerone, but stranded key runners throughout the game.
• Despite being outhit 5-4, Purdue Northwest made the most of their scoring opportunity in the seventh, seizing the lead and never relinquishing it.
• J. Arbini (SVSU) suffered the loss despite pitching a complete game with five hits, two earned runs, and three strikeouts.

 
The Breakdown
Game Two: L (5-4) – 10 Innings

• AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) got the Pride on the board in the second inning, scoring on a wild pitch after reaching base earlier in the frame.
• Drake Ballard (Louisville, Ky./Martha Laynes Collins) followed up in the third with a single through the left side, driving in Joey Guiliano (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) to extend the lead to 2-0.
• Saginaw Valley surged ahead with a four-run sixth inning, sparked by RBI hits from L. Mead, J. Lewis, and R. McCartan.
• Reid responded for the Pride in the eighth, knocking a two-run single to center that brought home Ballard and Brayden Barrett (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) to even the score at 4-4.
• The game would go into extra innings where the Pride would unfortunately fall to Cardinals as G. Richardso would single to left to walk off the game.
• Barrett led the offensive effort, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a run scored.
• Ballard, Reid, and Guiliano each contributed a hit, with Reid finishing the day with two RBIs.
• Jake Nightingale (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) started on the mound, striking out eight over six innings while allowing four runs on ten hits.
• Nick Mangano (Glenwood, Ill./Marian Catholic) pitched 3.2 innings of relief, giving up the deciding run in the 10th on an RBI single to left center from G. Richardso.
• The Pride defense turned in a clean performance with no errors.
• Despite being outhit 12-8, Purdue Northwest made the most of their opportunities and kept the game close throughout.
• N. Masar earned the win for Saginaw Valley after throwing two scoreless innings in relief.

Up Next:
The Pride wrap up their regular season with the series finale against Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, May 4. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM CT.