March 8, 2007

Box Score

Joplin, Mo. - #11 Grand Valley State used a dominant pitching performance from junior Nick Beach to claim a 9-0 non-conference win over Findlay Thursday (Mar. 8) afternoon in Joplin, Mo. 3B Lee VanStreain and C Nick Smith each tallied three hits and drove in two runs in the win. The Lakers will take on Missouri Southern on Friday, Mar. 9 at 2 pm CT.

Beach found himself in a bit of trouble in the top half of the first as the leadoff batter reached base on an error and the second batter singled through the left side to put a pair of runners on with nobody out. Beach set the next batter down on strikes, forced a groundout, and then struck out the next batter to get out of the jam. GVSU was held hitless through the first three innings as Findlay's Nate Tyahur kept the high powered Laker offense at bay.

SS Dan Skirka changed all that in the fourth as he laced a leadoff double to right center. 3B Lee VanStreain dropped a bunt down the third base line that stopped atop the line as he beat the throw to first to put runners on the corner with nobody out. 2B Spud McKenzie followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Skirka from third to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. The Lakers added three more in the fifth as VanStreain ripped a two run single up the middle and McKenzie added his second RBI of the day with a triple to center field.

Findlay tried to cut into the lead in the fifth as the leadoff batter ripped a ball to dead center that had a chance to be an inside the park home run. A great relay by CF Pat Radde to Skirka to 1B Cory Maguire to Nick Smith at the plate ended the chance in the sixth. The Lakers were unable to score any runs in the sixth despite getting runners on second and third with just one out. Findlay put runners on first and second in the seventh with a pair of one out singles before Beach set down the next batter on strikes. The very next batter hit a ball back up the middle that would have scored the runner from second had it not been for a highlight reel play by Skirka. The senior shortstop laid out and stopped the ball and then flipped it to McKenzie at second to end the threat and the inning.

Skirka continued the momentum into the bottom of the seventh as he started a five run inning with a lead off walk. VanStreain singled to left field before a walk to McKenzie loaded the bases for Smith. The senior clean up batter ripped a ball to left center for a double that scored both Skirka and VanStreain. RF Derek Hinke followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield before LF Steve Strutz drove a pitch out of the park for his second home run of the season and a 9-0 Laker lead.

Senior Matt Middleton replaced Beach atop the hill in the eighth and picked up where Beach left off as he set down all three batters he faced on strikes. Sophomore David Bowman finished out the contest in the ninth as the Lakers improved to 8-1 on the season. Beach went seven innings allowing just five hits and a walk while setting down eight batters on strikes.

Each Laker starter tallied at least one hit on the day as the Lakers pounded out 18 hits. VanStreain and Smith each registered three hits and two RBIs. McKenzie and Strutz added a pair of RBIs apiece in the victory. GVSU will take on Missouri Southern at 2 pm CT at Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin, Mo. on Friday, Mar. 9.