May 6, 2006

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - #4 Grand Valley State swept the #11-ranked Ashland Eagles 9-2 and 4-2 to claim the GLIAC regular season title Saturday afternoon in Ashland, Ohio. Senior Jeff Sinicki picked up the win in game one going the full seven innings while allowing just five hits to improve to 7-2 on the year. Senior Grant Payton kept his unblemished record intact as the Laker offense scored four runs in the fifth inning of game two to win 4-2. Grand Valley will take on Ashland again tomorrow (May 7) in another doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.

Starters Jeff Sinicki and Josh Davidson cruised through the first two innings as Ashland was the only team to tally a hit. The Lakers used a two out rally in the third inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead after two and a half innings. SS Dan Skirka got things rolling when he hit a pop fly that was dropped by the shortstop. The Ashland shortstop tried to make an over the shoulder catch but dropped the ball allowing Skirka to move to second. CF Jeff Carrero put himself on base by drawing a walk, setting the stage for 3B Lee VanStreain. The junior thirdbaseman continued to do what he has done all season by delivering a RBI single to right field. 2B Spud McKenzie kept the rally going by driving a pitch to right field to score Carrero and VanStreain and give the Lakers a 3-0 lead.

Ashland was able to get a run back in the fourth with a sacrifice fly, but the Laker offense continued to pound out hits and runs in the fifth and sixth innings plating three runs each inning. VanStreain recorded his second RBI of the game in the fifth scoring Carrero from second who reached on a double to center field. McKenzie followed with his second double in as many at bats to put runners on second and third. C Nick Smith then tallied the third double of the inning to score VanStreain and Carrero and give Grand Valley a 6-1 lead. 1B Casey Robrahn led off the sixth by drawing a walk and moved to second on a single by Skirka. LF Nate Secor dropped a bunt down the third base line that was fielded by the Eagle thirdbaseman who threw the ball past the secondbaseman covering the bag and into right field allowing Robrahn and Skirka to score. Later in the inning, McKenzie ripped his third RBI hit of the game with a single to right field. Ashland was able to record a run in the sixth but it was not enough as GVSU held on for the 9-2 win.

Grand Valley found themselves in an early hole in game two as Ashland scored a pair of runs in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. The Eagles used back-to-back doubles by SS Jim Barry and CF David Waters along with a RBI single by 2B Justin Randall to take the lead against starter Grant Payton. The Lakers only tallied two hits through the first four innings but broke things open in the fifth.

DH Brandon Bard led off the fifth inning with a single to right field, and moved to second after a single to center field by Skirka. Ashland felt a sacrifice bunt coming by Secor and wanted to cut the runner down at third, after taking a few pitches Secor dropped a perfect bunt down and beat it out to load the bases. Carrero got the Lakers back within one run with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Bard from third. The Eagles replaced starter Cody Castle with the left-handed reliever, Ryan Douglas, to face the left-handed hitting VanStreain, who was hit by an errant pitch to load the bases. McKenzie then stepped to the plate and delivered once again with a RBI single to left field and knotted the game up at two. A Douglas wild pitch allowed Secor to score and give the Lakers a one-run advantage. Douglas hit Smith to load the bases a third time and RF Nick Sandy worked a walk to score the Lakers final run of the contest.

Payton allowed just one hit over the final three innings in picking up the win and improving to a perfect 11-0 on the season. The final line score for Payton on the day was seven innings pitched, seven hits, two runs, and four K's.

McKenzie went 5-7 on the day with one run scored and four RBIs to pace the offense. VanStreain and Smith each drove in a pair of runs for the Lakers. VanStreain added three runs scored as did Skirka. Robrahn tallied a hit in game one to extend his hitting streak to 29 games but was unable tally a hit in game two as his school record hitting streak came to an end.

The Lakers picked up their 42nd win of the season and moved into second place on the all-time wins list in school history, just four shy of the 2004 squad that won 46 games. With the wins today Grand Valley captured the GLIAC regular season title and has earned the right to host the 2006 GLIAC Tournament from May 11-13. The GLIAC tournament pairings will be finalized on Monday but the four teams include the Eagles of Ashland, Mercyhurst College, and Wayne State. The Lakers are a combined 9-0 against the three participants in the tournament.