The Purdue Northwest Softball team delivered an impressive upset against GLIAC leader Saginaw Valley State on Friday afternoon, taking down the Cardinals in Game 1, 5-2, before falling in Game 2, 13-1, to split the doubleheader at Dowling Park.
The Basics
- Records: Purdue Northwest (19-15, 5-5 GLIAC), Saginaw Valley State (19-9, 9-1 GLIAC)
- Location: Hammond, Indiana (Dowling Park)
- Attendance: 100
Game 1
The Breakdown
- Saginaw Valley State struck first with a two-run home run in the opening inning, but Purdue Northwest responded and took control late in a 5-2 victory.
- The Pride chipped away in the second inning, scoring a run on a defensive error to cut the deficit to 2-1.
- Purdue Northwest took the lead in the fourth inning as senior Olivia Hernandez (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic) delivered a two-run home run to make it 3-2.
- Hernandez added to her big day in the sixth inning with a solo home run, while junior Kylie Dugan (Buck Creek, Ind./William Henry Harrison) followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.
- The Pride finished with five runs on nine hits, taking advantage of timely hitting and a key Saginaw Valley error.
- Hernandez led the offense with two home runs and three RBIs, while Dugan and freshman Charli Westerfield (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville Community) each recorded two hits.
- Freshman Sylvia Mudis (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) and sophomore Kylie Madura (Munster, Ind./Munster) each scored a run as part of a balanced offensive effort.
- Purdue Northwest limited Saginaw Valley to five hits in the contest after the first inning.
- Senior Hailie Charmat (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) earned the complete-game victory in the circle, allowing two runs while working around three walks.
- Alana Kimble started on the mound for the Cardinals going the first four innings allowing three runs off six hits.
- The Pride defense played a clean game, committing no errors and turning a double play behind Charmat.
Game 2
The Breakdown
- Saginaw Valley State used a fast start to take control early, scoring three runs in the first inning and building a 7-0 lead through three frames.
- The Cardinals broke the game open in the fourth inning, plating six runs to extend the lead to 13-0.
- Saginaw Valley finished with 13 runs on 13 hits, capitalizing on five Purdue Northwest errors and multiple unearned scoring opportunities.
- Emma Helvie led the Cardinals with four RBIs, while Kate Pnacek added three RBIs in the win.
- Purdue Northwest was limited to six hits in the contest and was unable to generate sustained offense.
- The Pride broke through in the fourth inning as Mudis delivered an RBI single to score Amanda DeBoer (Dyer, Ind./Illiana Christian).
- Westerfield and Madura each recorded two hits to lead Purdue Northwest offensively.
- The Pride plated their lone run in the fourth but could not overcome the early deficit.
- Sophomore Abbey Bond (Saint John, Ind./Andrean) took the loss in the circle after allowing five runs over two innings.
- Freshman Chloe Tanner (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) and sophomore Jordyn Roop (Hudson, Ill./University) combined in relief, with Roop working through multiple unearned runs in the final innings.
- Saginaw Valley closed out the victory behind a strong pitching performance from Maci Ireland going four innings and only allowing one run.
Up Next
- Purdue Northwest continues GLIAC play when they host Wayne State on Thursday, April 9. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1:30 PM CT at Dowling Park in Hammond, Indiana.