April 9, 2005
Box Score
Allendale, Mich. - The Lakers lost two tough one-run road games to GLIAC foe Saginaw Valley Saturday (Apr. 9). Grand Valley fell 2-1 in game one and lost 1-0 in a 12-inning contest in the second game. The 12 innings played was the longest since 1985 when the Lakers fell 9-8 at Hillsdale. Grand Valley falls to 14-7 overall and 5-3 in the GLIAC. Saginaw Valley improves to 17-4 overall and 8-2 in GLIAC action. The Lakers return to action Sunday, April 10 to finish the season series with Saginaw Valley. The next home contest for the Lakers will be Tuesday, April 19 against St. Joseph's (Ind.) in a nine inning non-conference game.
The Lakers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one when Scott Smith led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Smith was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior Ryan Lyster. Smith scored when Cardinal pitcher Steve Liebrecht balked. Saginaw Valley State answered in the bottom of the first scoring twice on two Laker miscues. The Lakers were able to get runners on first and second with one out in the top of the fourth but could not score the tying run. Brandon McFarland started the rally with a single to center and moved to second when Nick Smith walked in the next at bat. Liebrecht allowed three hits on the day and did not allow a runner past second base after the first inning. Jeremy Dow started for the Lakers going six innings allowing no earned runs and striking out six Cardinals.
In one of the most memorable games in GLIAC history, the Lakers and Cardinals battled back and forth in game two as the teams combined for only 13 hits in the 12 innings of action. Scott Smith led off the first by reaching base on an error by the shortstop and advanced to third on the play. Lyster advanced Smith to third with a sacrifice bunt but the Lakers were unable to score him from third. Clay Ackerman started the third inning with a single to centerfield and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Secor and a balk by Cardinal pitcher Scott Roy. Grand Valley was unable to get on the board as the next two Lakers struck out looking. The Lakers began the fourth with back-to-back walks to lead off the inning by Scott Allen and Brandon McFarland, but could not cross the plate as Scott Allen was gunned down at the plate. Grant Payton started for the Lakers and cruised through the first four innings, but found himself in a little trouble in the fifth as the first three Cardinals reached base. The Laker defense clamped down and were able to help Payton out of the bases loaded jam when senior shortsop cut down a Cardinal runner on a force out at home. The very next hitter hit into a routine 6-4-3 double play to get the Lakers out of the inning. Grand Valley advanced another runner to third in the seventh and once again could not score.
The eighth inning appeared that it would be the Lakers inning when Brandon McFarland hit a single to the shortstop and nearly scored on a single to left center by Nick Sandy. McFarland was thrown out at the plate by the second baseman on a relay from the centerfielder. McFarland collided with the catcher on the play and was ejected from the contest. Payton made sure that the momentum did not shift the Cardinals way in the eigth as he set Saginaw Valley down in order. The Cardinals answered in the tenth with a walk and a double to left center that put runners on second and third with no one out. Joe Finnerty issued an intentional walk to load the bases, he was then able to strike out the next hitter for the first out of the inning. The next hitter grounded into another 6-4-3 double play to get the Lakers out of trouble. Cardinal pitcher Scott Roy pitched all 12 innings allowing only four hits with 10 K's. Roy kept the Lakers in check in the final three innings not allowing a runner past second. The Lakers avoided trouble in the eleventh with another double play, this time on a line drive to shortsop Ryan Lyster who threw to second base to double off the runner. Saginaw Valley had back-to-back singles in the bottom of the twelfth inning. The second single advanced the runner to third with only one out. The Cardinals then executed a perfect squeeze play as the runner from third scored to end the game.
Payton threw eight innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits and striking out four. Joe Finnerty provided two innings of relief, allowing no runs and only one hit. Clay Ackerman went 2-4 for the Lakers in the contest.
The Lakers return to action Sunday, April 10 to finish the season series with Saginaw Valley. The next home contest for the Lakers will be Tuesday, April 19 against St. Joseph's (Ind.) in a nine inning non-conference game.
