April 9, 2003

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State rolled past Hope 12-4 in a non-conference game at Laker Field on Wednesday. The two squads picked up a late nine inning game after both schools had conference doubleheaders cancelled. GVSU scored four runs in the first inning and after Hope cut the lead to 4-3 in the fourth, put up six runs in the next two innings to secure the win. Ben Slein (4-0) pitched 2.2 innings and allowed only one run to earn the win. GVSU improves to 20-6-1 on the season, while Hope falls to 6-9.

The first three Lakers reached base in the first, and Scott Allen and Matt Wright put together back-to-back two RBI base hits to give GVSU the early lead. After the Dutchmen responded in the fourth to cut the lead to one, GVSU put three more on the board. Joe Mertes knocked in a run with a double and Adam Tomczyk followed with the first home run of his GV career. GVSU wasn't done as they scored three more in the fifth as GVSU put together four hits. The Lakers finished the scoring with single runs in the sixth and the seventh.

Mertes finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Scott Allen tallied two hits, two RBI, and scored three times. Senior Tony Pfennig posted two hits and scored a run, which gives him 132 runs in his career, breaking GVSU's all-time mark.

Jason LaBaumbard started for the Lakers and lasted 3.1 innings before Slein entered. David Nitz and David Olson threw the final three innings without giving up a run.

GVSU will play Saginaw Valley State this weekend in GLIAC action with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.