March 26, 2006

Box Score

Findlay, Ohio - Grand Valley State's baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Findlay Sunday afternoon and fall to 15-5 on the season and 2-2 in the GLIAC. The Oilers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to take game one by a 3-2 margin and outscored the Lakers 4-3 in the second inning of game two to pick up the win. GVSU will now travel to East Lansing, Mich. to take on Michigan State Wednesday, March 29 at 2 pm before hosting Saginaw Valley State in its home opener on April 1 at 12 pm.

The Lakers scored three runs in the second in an inning that saw four hits and a Findlay error. 1B Brandon Bard started things off with a single to left field and advanced to second when a ball hit by DH Chad Rohacs was misplayed by the third baseman putting runners on first and second. 3B Lee VanStreain followed with a RBI single to left field scoring Bard from second. CF Jeff Carrero and SS Dan Skirka followed with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead.

The lead would not last long as starter Vince Rizzi found himself in trouble giving up five hits and four runs on a RBI double and a two RBI single in the bottom of the second before making way to reliever Jeff Sinicki. Sinicki came in with the bases loaded and was called for a critical balk moving the runners up one base and giving the Oilers a 4-3 advantage.

Grand Valley looked to be on the right track in the fifth inning as the Lakers loaded the bases on three singles by Carrero, 2B Spud McKenzie, and C Nick Smith. RF Nick Sandy stepped to the plate with one out and grounded into one of the Lakers' two double plays in the game as the Oilers turned a 5-2-3 double play to end the threat. Bard reached base on an error by the second baseman and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rohacs, but was unable to score as Findlay shut down the Lakers in the sixth and seventh to earn the 4-3 win.

Game two saw starter Nate McCrory allow just two hits and an unearned run through six innings before finding trouble in the seventh. VanStreain drove in the first run of the contest driving in Sandy from second who singled to lead off the inning and found his way to second on a wild pitch before scoring. McKenzie came up with the clutch hit in the third driving in LF Nate Secor from second on a RBI triple to left center to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

After allowing just two base runners through the first three innings, McCrory gave up just his second hit of the game but it was a crucial one as it drove in the Findlay runner from third who reached base on an error by McKenzie. McCrory worked out of the jam forcing a pop out to Bard to end the inning. The Lakers loaded the bases in the fifth with only one out but two keys by the Oilers' second baseman ended the rally and the Lakers chance to add to their lead.

McCrory allowed just one baserunner in the fifth and sixth innings cutting him down with a pickoff to end the inning in the fifth and set the Oilers down 1-2-3 in the sixth. The seventh inning was a different story as Findlay led off the inning with a single, a fielder's choice, and consecutive walks to load the bases. McCrory gave way to reliever Dave Bowman who gave up the game winning two RBI double to end the game.

The Lakers outhit the Oilers in both games but left six runners on base in the first game and 10 in the second. McKenzie paced the offense on the day going 3-5 with his RBI triple. VanStreain drove in two on the afternoon and scored once for the Lakers.

Grand Valley will play a single nine inning contest against Michigan State Wednesday, March 29 at 2 pm in East Lansing, Mich. and will head home on April 1 to open its home schedule against Saginaw Valley State.