UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University softball team extended their winning streak to eight games with two victories over the University of Michigan-Dearborn this afternoon (Mar. 22) by scores of 9-1 (Game 1) and 11-3 (Game 2) in their 2009 home opener.

Current NFCA/Louisville Slugger National Pitcher of the Week Jade Fulton (Byron, Mich.) (6-2) got the start for the Cardinals in game one, throwing a complete game two-hitter, while striking out 11 batters and allowing a run on two hits for the afternoon.

The Cardinals didn’t waste any time getting the offense started in the bottom of the first. Marsha Beaubein (Alpena, Mich.) would take one out walk and score the game’s first run after a Jessica Anhel (Oxford, Mich.) fielders choice. Anhel and Stacy Kraatz (Howell, Mich./Harland HS) would score the final two runs of the inning on a Sarah Sheffer (Watervliet, Mich. / Kalamazoo Valley C.C.) double to right field.

The Cardinals would add a run to their 3-0 lead in the second inning on a Kraatz triple down the left field line that would score Beaubein to make the score 4-0.

Kraatz would again drive in Beaubein in the fourth inning on a single up the middle. Kraatz would score later in the inning on an Anhel single to center field.

Kraatz would drive in two more runs in the bottom of the sixth with a homerun to deep left center. Anhel would double in the next at bat and would be replaced at second base by pinch runner Jessica McKeith (River Rouge/River Rouge HS) who would score on a Sheffer single to left field to give the Cardinals the 9-1 game shortened victory.

Junior hurler Kari Bowlby (Elkhart, Ind.)(3-1) would get the start in game two in the circle for the Cardinals. Bowlby went 4.1 innings, allowing six hits, three runs and striking out three batters on the afternoon.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first the Cardinals’ would respond with a Beaubein homerun to left center to even the score at 1-1. Sheffer would double to left center later in the inning and score on a Nicole Fick (Columbiaville, Mich./Lapeer West HS) triple to right center. Fick would later score on a Shannon McLaughlin (Watervliet, Mich. / Kalamazoo Valley C.C) single to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead after one.

SVSU would add two more runs in the bottom of the second on a Beaubein two-run homer to extend the lead to 5-1.

Sheffer would lead off the third inning with a solo homerun and Fick would score on a Kim Sills (Clinton Twp., Mich./ Chippewa Valley HS) to give the Cardinals a 7-1 advantage.

In the fourth inning Angela Kaiser (Waterford, Mich./Our Lady of the Lakes HS) would hit a one out triple down the right field line and later score on a Kraatz single up the middle.

The Cardinals would close out the game in the fifth inning scoring three run for the 11-3 win. Jillian Peterson (Freeland, Mich.) led off the inning with a walk and a double by McLaughlin would put two Cardinals in scoring position. Peterson would score on a passed ball and McLaughlin would score on a Sills single. McKeith would reach on a fielders choice and would score on a Kaiser single through the right side of the infield.

The Cardinals improve to 13-5 overall on the season, while U of M Dearborn falls to 1-3 on the season. The Cardinals will return to action on Wednesday (Mar. 25) when they open the GLIAC portion of the 2009 schedule against Lake Superior State University.