March 30, 2007

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Erie, Pa. - #9 GVSU improved to 17-2 overall and 7-1 in GLIAC play with its doubleheader sweep (12-4, 15-4) at Gannon (4-15, 1-3 GLIAC) on Friday (Mar. 30) in Erie, Pa. 2B Spud McKenzie paced the offense going 6-7 with three runs and seven RBIs with a pair of home runs in game one. GVSU slugged out 27 runs on 32 hits in the doubleheader. GVSU and Gannon will face off again on Saturday, March 31 at 11 am.

In game one the Lakers scored eight runs through the first three innings en route to the 12-4 game one victory. SS Dan Skirka led off the game with a walk and was joined on the bases by Lee VanStreain who also drew a base on balls. A Spud McKenzie single loaded the bases for C Nick Smith who grounded into a double play but scored Skirka from third for the 1-0 lead. Skirka drove in two runs in the very next inning with a two run double to right field to put the Lakers up 3-0.

McKenzie led off the third with a solo homer to right field before Steve Strutz tripled in a run, and Pat Radde drove in another. Skirka would step to the plate later in the inning and tallied his third and fourth RBIs of the game with single up the middle. GVSU tacked on four more runs in the fifth when McKenzie hit the second home run of the game this time a grand slam to dead center for an inside the park homer. McKenzie hit a ball off the center field fence that bounced past the Gannon centerfielder allowing McKenzie to race around the bases and score for the 12-0 lead. Gannon cut into the lead with four runs in the final three innings to cut the final margin to eight (12-4).

The Lakers opened game two with nine unanswered runs as the sticks would not be silenced. GVSU scored two runs in the first three innings before tacking on three more in the top of the fourth. The fourth inning was a quiet one for the Lakers as they were held scoreless before adding two in the fifth, one in the sixth and a five spot in the top of the seventh. McKenzie paced the offense once again in game two as he went 3-4 with one run and two RBIs. VanStreain scored a career-high five runs in game two as he went 1-2 with four walks.

GVSU tallied 17 hits in game two en route to the 15-4 win as Brad Raj picked up his first win going five innings while allowing just one run. Fellow freshman Danny Richard picked up the win in game one as he also went five innings, striking out five.

The Lakers and Golden Knights will meet once again on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 am in Erie, Pa.