SAGINAW VALLEY STATE 22, PARKSIDE 9
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Parkside baseball team opened their GLIAC schedule on Friday as they took on the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. Although the Rangers were able to jump out to an early lead, the Cardinals rode a strong third inning to earn the win in the first game of the series.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rangers got on the board in the top of the first as Hunter Weddel scored on a wild pitch. The lead did not last long, as the Cardinals scored their first run, also coming off a wild pitch. The Cardinals took the lead in the second inning with an RBI double to put them up 2-1. Weddel answered in the third with an RBI single to score Andrew Leair. The bottom of the third brought trouble for the Rangers pitching, as the Cardinals were able to plate across eight runs, jumping out to a 10-2 lead. The Cardinals were able to score one more run in the fourth, followed by four more runs in the fifth. Dominic Esposito homered to right field in the top of the sixth inning to end the Cardinals scoring run. Jared Heinzen then tripled and brought home Kurt Mlachnik to make it a 15-4 ball game. The Cardinals then landed another massive inning, scoring seven runs and jumping out to a 22-4 lead. In the seventh inning, Mlachnik walked with the bases loaded to bring home Caleb Badgley to make 22-6. The eighth inning brought success for the Rangers offense, as Ryan Brouch walked to score Heinzen. Dominic Esposito singled to score Leair. Mlachnik then reached on an error by the third baseman to score Brouch, as the Rangers scored their final run to make the score 22-9.
 
A LOOK AT THE BOX SCORE
Leair went 3-5 with two runs scored. Esposito went 3-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Heinzen went 2-5 with and RBI and a run scored. Noah Gerritson earned the loss in this outing, going 2.0 innings and allowing five earned runs.
 
ON DECK
The Rangers return to action tomorrow as they continue their series against Saginaw Valley State with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. cst.