2-0 win over Grand Valley secures first-ever trip to College Softball World Series
The UNIVERSITY CENTER -- Saginaw Valley State University softball team (40-16) secured a spot in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships with a 2-0 Midwest Super Regional victory over the Grand Valley State University Lakers (41-16).
It marks the Cardinals' first-ever trip to the Championships, which will be held in Salem, Virginia.
The game remained scoreless through four full innings. SVSU got on the board in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead after Kaitlyn Kenyon (Tecumseh, Mich.) had a sacrifice fly to score Jessica McKeith (River Rouge, Mich.).
The Cardinals would add another run in the top of the seventh after McKeith drilled a home run to center field, making the count 2-0.
Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.), who improved to 29-9 overall on the season, set the Lakers down in order in the seventh to seal the victory and trip to Virginia. She scattered six hits on the afternoon, walking only one batter and striking-out seven. She is now 5-0 in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
McKeith, Natalie Wellman (Fairhaven, Mich./Anchor Bay HS) and Ashley Coffin (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson HS) all had two hits for the Cardinals, with McKeith and Kenyon accounting for both RBIs.
The Cardinals are back in action at the NCAA Division II Championships in Salem, Virginia on Thursday. They will play the winner of Augustana and Minnesota State-Mankato in the opener.
