April 8, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #18 Grand Valley State picked up wins number 21 and 22 in a GLIAC doubleheader against Gannon Saturday afternoon in Allendale, Mich. Jeff Sinicki went seven innings allowing two runs and just five hits while striking out seven in Grand Valley's 7-2 game one win. Nate McCrory continued the stellar pitching in game two as the Lakers won 6-0. Grand Valley sits at 22-7 overall and 9-3 in GLIAC play while Gannon slips to 10-18 overall and 0-6 in the GLIAC. The Lakers and Golden Knights will face off tomorrow in another GLIAC doubleheader beginning at noon ET.

Gannon jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning using a number of Laker errors. The Golden Knights tallied just one hit in the inning but scored their lone run on a Jeff Sinicki wild pitch to take the early lead. The Laker offense provided some early run support for Sinicki though, knocking in five in the bottom half of the first. SS Dan Skirka started the rally with a one out walk and advanced to third as 2B Spud McKenzie singled to right and moved to second on the throw to third. RF Nick Sandy stepped to the plate and hit a single between the shortstop and thirdbaseman to drive in Skirka and McKenzie to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead. After C Nick Smith walked, DH Brandon Bard drove in Sandy from second with his own RBI single through the left side. Bard moved to second as the leftfielder tried to gun down Sandy at the plate. Gannon's C Zach Leslie tried to pick Bard off second but had the ball knocked down by a sliding Bard allowing Smith to steal home and give the Lakers a 4-1 lead. 3B Lee VanStreain drove in the fifth run with a RBI single to right center.

Sinicki settled down after a shaky first and set the Knights down in order in the second and third innings. Gannon was able to scrape up another run in the fourth as Leslie singled to center and scored as RF Rob McNerney hit a ball that barely eluded a diving Nate Secor in left field. GVSU added two more runs in the fifth to gain the final margin. McKenzie led off the inning by drawing a walk and used his speed to move to third as Sandy tallied his second hit to nearly the same spot as his first, through the left side, and advanced to second on the throw. 1B Casey Robrahn tallied a hit for the ninth straight game and drove in McKenzie with a RBI single to left field. Smith followed with his 25th RBI of the season on a sacrifice fly to center field to score Sandy from third. Gannon made a late charge in the seventh but Sinicki was able to get out of the jam and pick up his third win of the season. Sinicki tied a career-high with seven strikeouts in the complete game victory.

Starter Nate McCrory continued where Sinicki left off allowing just two hits in six innings pitched as Grand Valley picked up the 6-0 win. Sandy and Robrahn tallied a RBI single apiece in the bottom of the first inning. Skirka reached first on an error by the shortstop and moved to third on a single by McKenzie to center field. McKenzie was picked off at first but moved to second as the Golden Knights cut down Skirka attempting to score from third on the play. Sandy stepped to the plate next and hit another RBI single through the left side scoring McKenzie and giving Grand Valley the early lead. Sandy advanced to second as the leftfielder misplayed the ball. Robrahn followed with a RBI single of his own through the right side of the infield.

The Lakers added two more runs in the second as Smith doubled to left center and moved to third on a single by DH Drew Wippich to center field. Wippich moved to second as the centerfielder threw home to keep and missed the cutoff man as the Golden Knight outfielders did on more than one occasion in the two contests. VanStreain drove in his second run in as many games with a sacrifice fly to left field. LF Pat Radde moved Wippich to third and put himself on second after a single to left field and advanced to second on a throw from the outfield. A RBI groundout by CF Jeff Carrero scored Wippich from third and gave the Lakers a 4-0 lead after two innings.

Grand Valley added two insurance runs in the fourth on a two out rally. After Wippich and VanStreain grounded out to first on just two pitches, Radde worked the count and hit a ball over the rightfielder's head and motored around the bases to end up with a triple. Carrero followed with a triple of his own to right center and drive in Radde. Skirka singled through the left side of the infield to score Carrero and give Grand Valley the 6-0 win.

McCrory and reliever Matt Middleton combined for the shutout, allowing just three hits in the game. McCrory went six innings allowing two hits, struck out two, and picked off two more as he improved to 6-1 on the year. Middleton appeared for the seventh inning allowing just one hit and keeping the Golden Knights off the scoreboard.

Sandy went 4-5 on the day with three runs scored and three RBI in the two games. VanStreain's consecutive hits streak came to an end in game one when he hit into a fielder's choice. Lee was a perfect 8-8 in his previous eight at-bats. Robrahn is on a nine game hitting streak and is followed by Carrero who owns an eight game streak and McKenzie who has a seven game streak.

Grand Valley will take on Gannon tomorrow in a GLIAC doubleheader beginning at noon ET.