April 1, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #16 Grand Valley State used some late inning heroics in game one and solid pitching in game two to beat Saginaw Valley Saturday afternoon in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth of game one to claim the 5-3 victory and Grant Payton threw a complete game shutout to pick up the 2-0 win in game two of the doubleheader. Grand Valley (17-6, 4-2 GLIAC) and Saginaw Valley (11-8, 1-5 GLIAC) will meet once again tomorrow in another GLIAC doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.

Game one saw the Lakers fall behind early as Saginaw Valley scored first using leadoff bunt singles to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After a Reed Welker popout, Brandon Fanion hit a RBI single down the right field line to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Jeremy Dow was able to get out of the jam by rolling a double play ground ball to 2B Spud McKenzie who tagged the runner and gunned down the batter at first.

The Cardinals tacked on another run in the third when Brandon Fanion hit a home run to left field to give SVSU a 2-0 lead. The Lakers answered with a run of their own in the third, despite not recording a hit. LF Nate Secor led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch, advanced to second when CF Jeff Carrero walked, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by SS Dan Skirka. McKenzie followed with a RBI groundout to the shortstop to cut the lead to one. The Lakers moved runners to third base in the fourth and second base in the fifth but were unable to score.

Grand Valley's bats awoke in the bottom of the sixth jumping out to a 5-2 lead after scoring four runs. RF Nick Sandy led off the inning with a solo shot to left field to tie the game. 3B Lee VanStreain drove in the second run with a RBI double down the right field line and advanced to third on a single by Carrero. VanStreain scored on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Ben Esparza. Skirka followed with a RBI single to right field driving in Carrero from second.

Dow found himself in trouble in the top of the seventh giving up a leadoff single and a walk before being replaced by Dave Bowman. After getting a fly out to center, Bowman allowed a single that dropped in front of Secor to cut the lead to two (5-3). Bowman picked up the Lakers' first save of the season getting a 6-4-3 double play to end the game as 1B Casey Robrahn made a beautiful scoop to end the game. Dow threw 6.0 innings giving up two earned runs while striking out three.

Game two was dominated by pitching as the teams combined for just eight hits. Starter Grant Payton tallied his second shutout of the season going the full seven innings allowing just three hits while striking out five. The Cardinals sent 24 batters to the plate, only three over the minimum, as Payton faced no more than four batters in a single inning.

The Lakers appeared to continue their hot hitting from the end of the second game as Carrero led off the game with a single through the left side and advanced to third on another Skirka sacrifice bunt and a McKenzie groundout. After C Nick Smith walked, the rally was killed as Sandy hit into a fielder's choice while Smith was cut down at second. Grand Valley was able to get on the scoreboard in the third as Carrero hit his second single of the game in almost the identical spot as his first, just out of reach of the shortstop. Carrero swiped second base and scored on a McKenzie RBI single down the right field line.

GVSU kept the rally going in the fourth as Sandy led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by DH Brandon Bard. Sandy then made a heads up play on a ball hit by Robrahn. The Cardinals' third baseman made a diving stop of Robrahn's grounder but the ball rolled just out of his reach, allowing Sandy to advance to the uncovered third and put runners on the corners. VanStreain then drove in his second RBI in as many games with a single down the left field line. Relief pitchers Matt Parker and Elijah Martin kept the Lakers at bay in the fifth and sixth innings. Payton shutdown any hopes of a red bird comeback getting two groundouts and his fifth strikeout in the seventh inning.

Jeff Carrero paced the offense in the twinbill going 4-6 with two runs scored. VanStreain and McKenzie each drove in two runs for the Lakers. Sandy's home run moved him into a tie for 11th on the all-time homer list with 16 for his career.