May 3, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #4 Grand Valley State upped its winning streak to 16 games with a GLIAC twinbill sweep over Hillsdale College Wednesday afternoon. GVSU took game one by a 12-3 count and then plated a single run in the bottom of the seventh to take game two by a 6-5 score. GVSU improves to 40-8 overall and 24-3 in GLIAC action. GVSU will be at #11 Ashland (42-10; 23-5) for a four-game series this Saturday (May 7) and Sunday (May 8).

The Lakers opened game one with four straight singles by CF Jeff Carrero, 3B Lee VanStreain, 2B Spud McKenzie and C Nick Smith. McKenzie's single plated Carrero, while Smith drove in VanStreain with his single to left. McKenzie crossed home with the Lakers' third run when RF Nick Sandy hit into a double play. GVSU added a single run in the second when LF Nate Secor singled to center and advanced to second on a Carrero walk. McKenzie then plated Secor with a single to right. GVSU broke the game open with five runs on six hits in the third. 1B Casey Robrahn extended his school-record hitting streak to 27 games with a one out double to left. DH Brandon Bard walked and SS Dan Skirka single to center to plate Robrahn. Bard advanced to third on a flyout by Secor before Carrero tripled to right center to score Bard and Skirka. Carrero scored on a single by VanStreain to left. VanStreain moved to third in a McKenzie single to center and then scored on a single by Smith to put the Lakers up 9-0. Hillsdale scored a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth before GVSU put three more on the board in the sixth. N. Smith waked to open the inning and then scored on a double to right center by pinch hitter Scott Cain. Pinch hitter Drew Wippich scored Cain with a single and he would later score on another pinch hit single by Pat Radde.

Jeremy Dow picked up the win with four innings of four-hit ball with four strikeouts. It was predetermined that Dow would only pitch four innings. Freshman Cody Sharp yielded three runs in two innings, while Alex Dawe finished the game with a scoreless seventh. McKenzie was 3-4 with two RBIs and a a run scored. Smith and Carerro each tallied a pair of hits and drove in a pair, while VanStreain tallied two hits and scored two runs.

Game two was a seesaw affair in which the Lakers missed several scoring chances. Hillsdale took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first before GVSU plated three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the second. Carerro walked to opening the inning and then moved to third when VanStreain reached on a single. McKenzie walked to load the bases and Carerro scored when N. Smith walked. RF Nick Sandy then singled to plate McKenzie and VanStreain. GVSU added its fourth run in the second when Secor singled with one out. He advanced to third on a single by VanStreain and then scored on a McKenzie single to right. Hillsdale scored single runs in the third and fifth innings to pull within one (4-3), but the Lakers scored what was thought to be an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on three hits. VanStreain singled to left with one out and moved to second when McKenzie was retired unassisted by the first baseman. N. Smith reached on an infield single and Sandy followed with a single to plate VanStreain. Hillsdale's first two batters reached base to open the seventh and later scored on a two-out single to left to tie the game at 5-5. GVSU's Casey Robrahn, who upped his hitting streak to 28 games, singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt by DH Brandon Bard. SS Dan Skirka reach on an infield single that advanced Robrahn to third before Secor singled sharply to center to score Robrahn with the winning run.

Reliever David Bowman picked up the first win of his career by pitching the seventh. Matt Middleton got the start and yielded two runs on seven hits in three innings. Vince Rizzi gave up three hits and one run in three innings of work. Bowman yielded two runs on two hits. Nick Sandy was 3-4 with three RBIs, while Lee VanStreain, Casey Robrahn and Nate Secor each collected a pair of hits.