WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University baseball team split a pair of games against the University of Charleston (W.Va.) to open its 2011 season at the Russ Matt Invitational.  The Cardinals dropped the first game by a score of 4-2 before claiming a victory in the second contest by a score of 3-1.

Game 1

The Cardinals trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, when sophomore Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich./Bullock Creek HS) laced an RBI single up the middle to score junior Cam Wiechmann (Birch Run, Mich./Muskegon CC), who doubled to lead-off the inning. 

Charleston would plate two more runs in the top half of the seventh to grab a 4-1 lead and SVSU would only be able to add one run in the bottom of seven, as O'Boyle was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score junior Brandon Schwanz (Novi, Mich./Henry Ford CC), who walked.

O'Boyle, Wiechmann and sophomore Eric Hummel (Menominee, Mich./Minnesota-Duluth) all collected one hit for SVSU, with O'Boyle having both RBI's.

Sophomore Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) took the loss on the hill, giving up four runs, one being earned, while pitching all seven innings and striking-out eight batters.

Game 2

SVSU jumped out front early, grabbing a 1-0 lead after the top of the first as O'Boyle rattled a double off the left field fence to score sophomore Eric Burt (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage HS).  Charleston knotted the game at one after two innings.  Wiechmann singled to lead-off the sixth and O'Boyle would follow with a two-run shot over the left-center field fence to give the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.

That's all sophomore Mike Saunders (Mt. Morris, Mich./EA Johnson HS) would need, as he held Charleston scoreless the rest of the way to earn his first victory of the season.  Saunders went the distance for the Cardinals; striking-out five batters and issuing no walks, while scattering five hits.

O'Boyle finished with two hits and three RBI's while Burt also added a pair of hits. 

The Cardinals return to action tomorrow (Mar. 6), as they take-on Northern State University in a 12:30 pm contest.