April 2, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #16 Grand Valley State split a doubleheader with the visiting Cardinals of Saginaw Valley State dropping game one by an 8-5 margin and winning 12-5 in game two. Nate McCrory picked up his fifth win of the season in game two, throwing a complete game with five K's. The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, April 5 in Midland, Mich. against Northwood at 2 pm.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard early in game one pushing three runs across in both the first and second innings. Starter Jeff Sinicki lasted one inning allowing three hits, three runs (two earned), despite striking out three. SVSU did not slow down in the second scoring three runs on three hits and a Laker error against reliever Matt Middleton.

The Lakers were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the second when 3B Lee VanStreain scored from third after reaching base on a single back up the middle. CF Jeff Carrero drove in VanStreain when he hit a ball that was misplayed by the red bird shortstop. Grand Valley engineered another run in the fourth when 1B Casey Robrahn led off with a single up the middle and scored following DH Drew Wippich reaching on an error, a sacrifice bunt by VanStreain and a RBI groundout by LF Nate Secor.

SVSU scored two more runs in the top of fifth thanks to three consecutive singles to lead off the inning to drive in one and a sacrifice fly to up the margin to six (8-2). The Lakers seemed to have things going in the bottom half of the fifth scoring two runs of their own. GVSU loaded the bases with one out with back-to-back singles by SS Dan Skirka and 2B Spud McKenzie, an error allowed RF Nick Sandy to reach first. Robrahn drove in the Lakers' first run with a RBI fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, Wippich drilled a pitch right back up the middle to cut the Cardinals' lead to four (8-4). Grand Valley took advantage of a Saginaw error in the sixth when Skirka advanced to second after hitting what appeared to be a routine double play ball to the shortstop who relayed the ball to the second baseman to cut down Carrero who then threw the ball into the Cardinal dugout. McKenzie drove in Skirka from second with a RBI single to center field. The run would be the Lakers last as they were unable to get a rally going in the seventh and fell 8-5.

Game two looked to be similar to the first after one and a half innings as SVSU's Reed Welker hit a two run home run in the top of the second off starter Nate McCrory. The Lakers made sure things did not repeat rattling off two or more runs in each of the last five innings to claim the 12-5 victory. The Lakere knotted up the score at two in the second inning when Robrahn led off with a single and moved to third following a walk by C Nick Smith and a groundout by DH Brandon Bard. VanStreain stepped to the plate and drove in Robrahn and Smith with a single to center field.

The Lakers took the lead for good in the third with a three run inning. Skirka led off the inning with a walk and moved to second following a single by McKenzie. The two runners moved to second and third by way of smart baserunning when Sandy drove a pitch to the deepest part of the park but was caught at the wall, allowing Skirka and McKenzie to move up. Robrahn drove in the doubleplay duo with a bases clearing double. Bard drove in the third run when the left fielder dropped a foul ball down the left field line, allowing Robrahn to score. The bats were not kept silent in the fourth as Grand Valley added three more runs to its total with a Sandy RBI single and another two RBI double by Robrahn.

SVSU cut the lead to three (8-5) by tallying three runs in the fifth with its second two run homer of the game. The Lakers answered with two more runs in the fifth. Secor started things off with a triple that was hit over the centerfielder's head and scored on the very next play as Carrero drilled a pitch over the right center field fence for his second home run of the year. McCrory went back to business in the sixth not allowing a hit. GVSU tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Bard doubled in Smith from third and VanStreain continued his hot hitting with a RBI single. McCrory struck out two in the top of the seventh to improve to 5-1 on the year. McCrory went the distance allowing five runs (three earned), and tied a season-high with five strikeouts.

Robrahn (.500), McKenzie (.500), and VanStreain (.600) all hit better than .500 for the day. Robrahn scored three times and drove in five, McKenzie crossed the plate three times, and VanStreain added three RBI. Skirka led the Lakers in runs scored with a pair in each contest.

Grand Valley travels to Northwood on Wednesday, April 5 for a GLIAC doubleheader before heading home to take on Gannon in a pair of weekend doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, April 8 and 9.