March 29, 2006

Box Score

East Lansing, Mich. - Grand Valley State dropped a 14-5 decision to Michigan State Wednesday afternoon in East Lansing, Mich. LF Nate Secor went 2-4 with a RBI triple and a solo home run in the loss. Grand Valley will host Saginaw Valley State in its home opener on April 1 at 12 pm.

The Spartans used three big innings to start the game and take the lead for good. MSU tallied four hits in the first including a RBI single along with a two RBI single to take a quick 3-0 lead. The Lakers knotted the score at three in the top of the second thanks to a two RBI single by 1B Casey Robrahn and a RBI triple by LF Nate Secor. Nick Sandy started things off by drawing a one out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. DH Chad Rohacs followed with a single to put runners on the corners for Robrahn who stepped up with a key two RBI single to centerfield. Secor stepped to the plate two batters later and laced a triple to drive in Robrahn and tie the score.

MSU tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the second and third to lengthen its lead to 10 (13-3). The Lakers tried to chip away at the lead in the fourth and fifth innings with a pair of runs to cut the lead to eight. Secor drove in the lone run in the fourth with his first home run of the season, an opposite field shot to left field. 2B Spud McKenzie led off the fifth with a single up the middle, advanced to second on a C Nick Smith groundout to first, and moved to third by way of a balk. RF Nick Sandy stepped to the plate next and drove a pitch through the left side for a RBI single. The run would be the last for the Lakers on the afternoon.

The Laker pitching struggled in the start of the contest with starter Grant Payton allowing three earned in an inning of work, Vince Rizzi allowing five earned with one inning pitched, and Cody Sharp allowing five in two thirds of an inning. After the third the Laker bullpen allowed just three hits and an unearned run.

Sandy, Robrahn, and Secor each tallied two hits in the game with Robrahn and Secor driving in two, and Sandy the Lakers fifth run. Matt Middleton pitched 2.1 innings not giving up a hit and allowing an unearned run. Dave Bowman provided two innings of one hit relief and Jeff Sinicki allowed two hits but zero runs in the ninth.

Grand Valley falls to 15-6 for the season and are set to take on Saginaw Valley State in its home opener with a doubleheader this Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2 at 12 pm each day.