April 16, 2005
Box Score
Erie, Penn. - The Lakers scored early and often to win a GLIAC road doubleheader in Erie, Penn. against the Gannon Knights Saturday, April 16. Grand Valley outhit the Knights 28-8 on the day en route to a 12-1 game one victory and a 9-2 win in game two. Jeff Sinicki allowed just one hit over five innings in game one to earn the victory. Nick Sandy fueled the offense going 6-8 on the day with four runs scored, two RBI, and his sixth home run of the season. The Lakers wrap up their season series with the Knights on Sunday, April 17 in a doubleheader beginning at noon ET. Grand Valley returns home Tuesday, April 19 in a North Central Regional showdown against St. Joseph's (Ind.) at 3 PM.
The Lakers tallied five runs in the second inning of game one and never looked back to win 12-1. Nick Sandy started the scoring with a triple to left center and was driven in by a Clay Ackerman single through the left side of the infield. Chad Rohacs reached base thanks to a hit by pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Lyster answered with a single that drove in Ackerman and Rohacs to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Scott Allen finished the scoring in the second with a two-run triple to drive in Lyster and Scott Smith. The only hit the Knights had in the game was a big one, as designated hitter David Gnaciski hit a solo home run to right center to cut the lead to 5-1. Grand Valley tallied seven more runs in the final three innings to coast to a 12-1 victory. Brandon McFarland scored on a Nick Smith double to add a run in the fifth for Grand Valley. Lyster added his third RBI of the game in the sixth inning on a double that drove in Pat Radde. Lyster scored on a Scott Allen RBI single down the left field line. Scott Smith hit a two-run double to left center after Lee VanStreain and Drew Wippich each knocked in a run in the Lakers' four-run seventh. Three Laker pitchers combined to one-hit the Knights in the contest. Jeff Sinicki started going the game five innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. Matt Middleton lowered his team-leading ERA to 0.93 pitching a perfect sixth. Sandy finished the game pitching a scoreless seventh.
The Laker bats stayed hot in game two as they jumped out to a 5-0 lead after three innings and cruised to a 9-2 victory. Scott Smith began the scoring lacing a double down the right field line with the bases loaded to drive in Pat Radde and Clay Ackerman. Brandon McFarland followed with a single through the left side that knocked in Ryan Lyster and Smith. Nick Sandy led off the third inning with a shot that cleared the centerfield fence to up the Laker lead to 5-0. The Lakers connected for another home run in the fourth inning when Nick Smith took a Dale Dollard pitch to right field. Scott Allen scored on the play after reaching base with a single to right field to lead off the inning. The Lakers loaded the bases later in the inning scoring on a walk by Ryan Lyster. The Knights were able to cross the plate twice in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Laker lead to 8-2. Grand Valley responded in the fifth with an RBI single through the left side by Sandy to drive in Allen. Marty Jackimowicz earned the win for the Lakers throwing five innings, allowing two runs on six hits and four K's. Sean McCleod and Nathan McCrory each threw an inning of shutout ball to close the door on the Knights.
Ryan Lyster scored four times on the day to go along with four RBI on 2-5 from the plate. Chad Rohacs added four hits and a run scored on the day. Allen went 5-9 with three RBI and two runs scored for the Lakers. Scott Smith drove in four runs and scored in each game. The Lakers finish the season series with the Knights in a doubleheader Sunday, Apriil 17 at noon ET. Grand Valley returns home to face St. Joseph's (Ind.) in a North Central Regional showdown Tuesday, April 19 at 3 PM.
