May 1, 2004

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State, ranked 21st in the latest DII baseball poll, swept a GLIAC doubleheader from Gannon Saturday, winning game one 5-2 and the nightcap 6-1. GVSU improves to 34-14 overall and 21-7 in GLIAC play.

The Lakers struck early in game one, scoring two in the first and three in the second to take a 5-0 lead. 2B Scott Smith singled and reached third on a stolen base and a passed ball. LF Scott Allen doubled in Smith and then scored on a single by RF Joe Mertes. GVSU plated three more runs in the second on four hits. C Elijah Beckwith and DH Matt Wright singled to open the inning. SS Ryan Lyster walked with one out to load the bases. Smith singled in one run and Allen then drove in two more runs on a single. Starting pitcher Matt Rafeld was in control throughout, yielding two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Rafeld picked up his eighth win of the year (8-2) and the 16th in his two-year career. Scott Allen was 2-3 with three RBI, while Scott Smith tallied a pair of hits and drove in one run.

GVSU opened game two in similar fashion to game one, scoring three runs on three hits. Smith and Allen opened the bottom of the first with a single and a walk befor Mertes advanced the pair with a sac bunt. 1B Tim Hudnall drilled a two-run double off the left field fence to plate Smith and Allen. Hudnall's two RBIs gave him the GVSU single-season record of 62, bettering the mark of 60 Joe Brunink set last season. CF Brandon McFarland doubled in Hudnall to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. GVSU scored a single run in the fifth when Ryan Lyster scored on a sac fly by Mertes. Gannon scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth, but GVSU scored two on a Smith double that scored Lyster and LF Nick Sandy. Jon Micoff picked up his team leading ninth win of the year (9-2) with a complete game five-hitter. Micoff struck out five and walked just two. Smith was 2-3 with two RBI, while Lyster was 2-3 with two runs scored. Hudnall drove in a pair, while McFarland and Mertes each drove home a run.

Grand Valley State, third in the latest NCAA DII North Central Regional rankings, will host Gannon in a GLIAC doubleheader Sunday beginning at 12 noon. GVSU will honor its six senior prior to the first game.