May 18, 2003

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and then four in the bottom of the eighth en route to a 12-7 win over Indianapolis in the NCAA Division II North Central Regional Championship game Sunday (May 18) at Laker Field. GVSU (40-12-1) advances to Montgomery, Alabama for the 2003 NCAA DII Baseball World Series. The Lakers will open up play at the series against #1 Central Missouri State (47-7) on Saturday, May 24, at 7:30 pm ET.

The Lakers started the game in fine fashion with a six-run first inning. After CF Mike McCallister struck out, senior SS Tony Pfennig homered to left field to start the scoring. 1B Joe Brunink tripled and came home on Kevin Boyd's single to center. 3B Scott Allen singled and DH Matt Wright doubled in Boyd and Allen to push the score 4-0. Indianapolis made a pitching change and on the first pitch RF Joe Mertes belted a two-run shot to left center to give GVSU a 6-0 lead. Brunink pushed the Laker lead to 7-0 with a solo HR in the bottom of the second. Indianapolis scored two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth before the Lakers scored another single run in the bottom of the sixth. McCallister singled and took second on a passed ball. Pfennig walked and Brunink drove home McCallister with a single to center. Indianapolis scored four runs on just one hit with two Laker errors in the top of the seventh to pull within one (8-7). However, GVSU added four insurance runs in the bottom of eighth. 2B Jeremy Lundberg walked, followed by a McCallister single. Pfennig singled in Lundberg and then Brunink provided the final blow with a three-run HR to left. Senior relief pitcher David Olson got the final three outs in order before the celebration began. Senior LHP Nick Bultema picked up the win, yielding three runs in 5.1 innings of work. Ben Slein worked 1.1 innings before Olson took over and pitched the fianl two innings.

Regional MVP Joe Brunink was 4-5 on the day with two home runs, a triple, a single and five RBI. Tony Pfennig collected two hits and two RBI, while Allen tallied a pair of hits. Matt Wright was 1-4 with two RBI, Joe Mertes was 1-3 with two RBI and McCallister was 2-4 with two runs scored.

Elijah Beckwith (C), Joe Brunink (1B/MVP), Scott Allen (3B) and Joe Finnerty (RP) were named to the North Central All-Tournament Team for GVSU.