May 14, 2004

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - Grand Valley State claimed a 10-5 win over Wisconsin-Parkside Friday (May 14) afternoon and in the process advanced to the NCAA DII North Central Regional title game Saturday at 12 noon versus Ashland. GVSU improves to 41-15 on the year and Wisconsin-Parkside is eliminated from the tourney. GVSU and Ashland have split six games this season.

The Lakers opened the game with three runs in the first and three in the second. 2B Scott Smith singled to open the game and RF Joe Mertes then second a pitch over the centerfield fense. 1B Tim Hudnall then drilled a solo shot over the scoreboard to give GVSU a 3-0 lead. The Lakers then scored three runs on two hits. DH Matt Wright singled and scored on a triple by Ryan Lyster. Smith reached on a fielder's choice that scored Lyster. 3B Scott Allen singled Smith third and Hudanll his a sac fly that scored Smith. took a 9-0 lead with three in the bottom of the fourth on four hits. Lyster and Smith opened the inning with singles and Allen Walked to load the bases. Mertes hit a sac fly and Hudnall singled to scored the eighth run. CF Brandon McFarland singled later in the inning to scored Allend. UWP battled back with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth, however, GVSU added its 10th run in the bottom of the sixth as McFarland singled in Smith who singled to open the inning.

Phil Mixter picked up his seventh win of the year, yielding five runs and eight hits in 6.2 innings of work. Mixter tallied nine strikeouts and walked six. Sean McLeod threw 1.1 innings of scoreless ball and Matt Rafeld tossed a hitless ninth. Mertes was 1-3 with three RBI, while Hudnall was 2-2 with three RBI. Smith was 3-5 with four runs scored, while Allen, McFarland and Lyster each collected two hits. GVSU pounded out 14 hits in the game and has 41 hits in three games. The Lakers have now won 28-of-32 games.