March 23, 2003

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Grand Valley State regrouped from a tough Saturday loss by sweeping three games from GLIAC foe Gannon University Sunday (10-3, 5-3, 5-3) in Erie, Pa. GVSU improved to 12-5 overall and 3-1 in GLIAC play, while Gannon dropped to 3-7 and 1-3.

The Lakers busted the bats out early Sunday, pounding out 13 hits and scoring 10 runs in game two of the four-game series. Junior pitcher Matt Rafeld (3-0) picked up the victory on the mound with a complete game. Rafeld struck out three and yielded three runs on five hits. GVSU scored two runs in the top of the first, but trailed 3-2 after two complete innings. GVSU put three on the board in the third and four more in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead. Junior catcher Elijah Beckwith homered and drove in three runs on three hits, while sophomore right fielder Joe Mertes homered and also drove in three runs. Center fielder Mike McCallister was 2-5 with a solo home run, while first baseman Joe Brunink, shortstop Tony Pfennig and left fielder Kevin Boyd each collected two hits.

GVSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game three with two in the top of the first and one in the second. However, Gannon tied the game with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings. GVSU scored the game-winner by engineering a run in the sixth. Scott Allen singled and advanced to second when Matt Wright was hit by a pitch. Allen and Wright advanced on a balk before two Lakers were retired. Allen and Wright then pulled off a double steal from second and third to score a run. The Lakers then added an insurance run in the seventh when Allen singled in Brunink with two outs. Junior lefty Nathan Barden started the game and yielded just two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in four innings.. Sophomore Joe Finnerty (1-0) picked up the win, giving up one run on two hits with five strikeouts in three innings of work.

The Lakers put a three spot on the board in the third inning of game four. GVSU pounded out four hits and scored three runs, two of which came with two outs. Gannon put two on the board in the sixth, before the Pfennig drove in two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to push the Laker lead out to 5-2. Ben Slein (2-0) picked up the win, yielding two runs on five hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work. David Olsen picked up his second save of the year with four strikeouts in two innings of action.