UNIV. CENTER, Mich. - Freshman pitcher
Carson Fischer finished off a great week for himself on the mound on Saturday in a 5-4 win over Saginaw Valley State to win the series 3-1 and improve to 21-18 overall and 11-5 in the GLIAC. The Hudsonville native came into the game in the bottom of the fifth as DU trailed 3-2.
He retired the Cardinals with runners on second and third in the inning and then allowed just one hit in the sixth inning. Davenport gave him the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh for a 5-3 lead. Pinch hitter
Aaron Cardoza started the rally with a one-out single.
Christian Petre was hit by a pitch and pinch runner
Cobe Huizenga advanced to second. SVSU's second pitcher of the game, Christopher Schmees, left the game at that point for Reed Raymond.
Raymond gave up a RBI single to
Nolan Anspaugh to tie the game. Petre and Anspaugh executed a double steal and a throwing error at third allowed Petre to score for a 4-3 advantage.
Gaetano Vallone on a full-count pitch then hit a sacrifice fly to right as Anspaugh scored for a 5-3 lead.
Fischer continued his stellar work by not allowing a hit in the seventh and eighth innings. Two batters reached, one in each inning, but that was because of an error. The Cardinals scored on a throwing error in the eighth with two outs to cut it to 5-4. The Panthers were retired in order in the top of the ninth and Fischer went back out to finish it. Raymond lined out to Fischer for the first out. Connor Cornwell flied out to center field for the second out. Hayden Jatczak singled to shortstop to put the tying run on base. Fischer then struck out Martin Money on four pitches to secure the victory and his fourth win of the season. Troncin got the start and went four innings. He allowed five hits and three earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Fischer went five innings and allowed just three hits with no earned runs. He walked just one and struck out four in 66 pitches. Schmees (3-3) took the loss for Saginaw Valley State. He tossed 4.2 innings in relief and allowed four hits and two earned runs with a walk and two strikeouts.
Caleb Anspaugh went 1-for-3 with a triple and stolen base. He had a tremendous four-game series batting .600 (9-15) with 10 runs, two home runs, and six RBI.
Ben Mets finished as the only Panther with multiple hits going 2-for-4 with a double. He went 9-for-17 (.529) in the series with 10 runs, four home runs, and 10 RBI. DU hit .397 in the series and scored 69 runs with 11 doubles, two triples, and 13 home runs. DU is back at home next week as they welcome Indianapolis for the first time at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in Caledonia.
