April 13, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #15 Grand Valley State improved to 26-8 overall and 13-3 in league action beating Northwood (13-18, 3-9 GLIAC) 10-4 in game one and holding on for a 7-5 victory in game two. Nick Smith went 2-3 with two home runs and five RBI in game one as Jeff Sinicki picked up his fourth win of the year. Casey Robrahn stole four bases and went 3-4 with two runs scored and a RBI in game two. Grand Valley will host #25 Northern Kentucky in a critical North Central Region doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 at 12 pm.

The Lakers' bats started out hot in game one, scoring three quick runs in the bottom of the first. CF Jeff Carrero started things off with a single to center field and moved to second when the centerfielder misplayed the ball. 3B Lee VanStreain laid down a picture perfect sacrifice bunt to third, moving Carrero to third in the process. Carrero scored on the next play beating a throw from the shortstop at the plate knocking the ball out of the catcher's glove with his slide, on a ball hit by 2b Spud McKenzie to the Timberwolves' shortstop. McKenzie proceeded to steal second and moved to third on a groundout by RF Nick Sandy. C Nick Smith followed with a bomb to right field that easily cleared the fence to give the the Lakers a 3-0 lead.

Northwood evened the game at three in the very next inning with a home run of its own. DH Chris Kouris, hitting in the eight spot, took a Jeff Sinicki pitch and hit a three run homer to right field. Grand Valley took back the lead for good in the bottom of the third with a pair runs. VanStreain started things off with a walk, moved to second on a balk, and took third on a passed ball, before scoring on a double by Sandy that came five feet of clearing the fence in left center field. After Smith was hit by a pitch, 1B Casey Robrahn singled in front of the centerfielder to score Sandy from second.

The Lakers added two more runs in the fifth and another three in the sixth for the 10-4 win. Sandy made up for leaving his last hit a little short by hitting a home run to left field, after McKenzie walked to lead off the inning. GVSU used the long ball once again in the sixth as Smith tallied his second home run of the game driving in VanStreain and Sandy, who reached on a fielder's choice and an error respectively. Northwood tried to get a rally going the in the ninth with a double and a single to put men on the corners. After a pop out, 2B Mike Viselli grounded out to McKenzie to cut the Laker lead to six (10-4). Sinicki settled down and struck out 3B Jeff Yenkel to end the game. Sinicki threw his second complete game of the season allowing four earned runs on six hits, while ringing up four. With the win, Sinicki improves to 4-2 on the season.

Grand Valley's bats stayed hot in game two scoring seven early runs and held on for the 7-5 win. Sandy drove in his fourth RBI of the day in the first on a great piece of hitting, driving a two strike pitch through the right side to plate VanStreain from second. Robrahn started things off in the second with a single and proceeded to steal second and third in between a groundout by DH Brandon Bard. SS Dan Skirka followed with a RBI single to right field and then moved to second after LF Pat Radde drew a walk. Carrero then drove in his team leading 35th RBI of the season on a ball hit to left field, Radde and Carrero moved up after the leftfielder misplayed the ball. VanStreain followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Radde and give Grand Valley a 4-0 lead. The Lakers drove in three runs on two hits in the third. Sandy led off with a walk then stole second and third to put himself in scoring position. Robrahn drove Sandy in on a ball hit right through the legs of the second baseman. Robrahn stole second and Bard tallied a RBI single that dropped in down the right field line for a six run advantage. After a Northwood pitching change, Skirka drew a walk and Radde singled to load the bases for Carrero. The patient Carrero watched four balls to draw a RBI walk.

Starter Nate McCrory started off with three innings of one hit baseball before Northwood figured the lefty out and tallied three runs in the fourth. 1B Matt Shields hit a two run homer in the fourth and SS Nick Walker hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Laker lead to four (7-3). The Timberwolves drove in another run in the fifth with three consecutive hits, before McCrory exited. Dave Bowman entered the game with the bases loaded and induced a 5-4-3 double play for the first two outs of the inning. Northwood were able to plate a run on the play despite the twin killing. Bowman forced another groundout to third to end the inning. Northwood loaded the bases again in the seventh, but Bowman was able to force another ground out this time to himself to end game two. McCrory improved to 7-1 with the win and Bowman recorded his third save of the season.

Casey Robrahn and Jeff Carrero continued their hot hitting, both extending their hit streaks to 14 and 13 respectively. Robrahn went 5-7 with two runs scored and five RBI in the twinbill. Carrero tallied two hits, a run scored and two RBI. Nick Sandy continued his dominance against Northwood going 3-7 with four runs scored and four RBI on the day. In four games against Northwood this season, Sandy went 6-15 with seven runs driven in and seven runs scored.

Grand Valley will take on #25 Northern Kentucky in a North Central Region showdown this Saturday, April 15 at 12 pm. The Lakers split a doubleheader with the Norse earlier this year winning 6-4 and dropped a 12-11 decision.