April 13, 2005

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley split a GLIAC doubleheader at Hillsdale losing game one 8-7 and picking up the win in game two 3-1.  The Lakers and Chargers battled back and forth in game one as the lead changed hands four times before Hillsdale scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh for the win.  Grant Payton picked up the win in game two allowing one run on four hits and striking out five.  The Lakers are 16-9 overall and 7-5 in GLIAC action.  Grand Valley returns to action Saturday, April 16 at 12 PM when they travel to Gannon for a GLIAC doubleheader.  The Lakers next home contest will be Tuesday, April 19 against St. Joseph's (Ind.) in a nine inning non-conference game.

Grand Valley posted a quick run to start off game one when Scott Allen walked, stole second and scored all the way from second when the centerfielder misplayed the overthrow made by the catcher.  Hillsdale responded quickly in the bottom of the first tying the game at one run apiece.  Grand Valley tallied two runs in the top of the third when Brandon McFarland and Nick Smith led off the inning with back-to-back doubles.  Clay Ackerman drove Smith in from third to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead.  Grand Valley added another run in the fourth thanks in large part to the speed of senior second baseman Scott Smith.  Smith beat out a bunt for a single, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an Allen RBI single.  Jeremy Dow started for the Lakers keeping the Chargers in check until the fifth inning when they posted five runs and knocked Dow out of the game.  The Lakers responded to the deficit with three runs in the top of the sixth inning.  The first seven batters of the inning reached base safely on five hits and two walks.  Scott Smith, Allen, and McFarland all scored in the inning.  Nick Smith and Chad Rohacs each had RBI singles in the inning.  Hillsdale capitalized off a Laker error to start the seventh inning to score twice and win game one 8-7.

   

Game two started much the same as game one, as the Lakers posted two early runs and that was all starter Grant Payton needed as Grand Valley recorded a 3-1 win.  Scott Smith, Scott Allen, and Brandon McFarland started off the game with three consecutive singles.  Smith scored on McFarland's single and Allen scored on a Nick Smith sacrifice fly to centerfield to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.  The Lakers added an insurance run in the seventh inning thanks to Scott Smith's speed once again, Smith walked, stole second and third base and scored when the catcher committed a throwing error trying to throw Smith out at third.  Payton threw a complete game allowing one run on four hits and striking out five.  Payton did not allow a runner past second base until the Chargers recorded two doubles in the bottom of the seventh to get on the board.  The run in the bottom of the seventh was the first Payton had given up in 17 consecutive innings, dating back to the April 9 contest against Findlay.

Scott Smith was 3-6 on the day with four runs scored and five stolen bases.  Nick Smith recorded three RBI with one run scored while going 4-5 from the plate.  The Lakers recorded a season-high seven stolen bases in game two.