April 15, 2007

Box Score
Game Two Recap

Allendale, Mich. - Senior Lee VanStreain laced a single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one driving in two runs as the #5 Lakers scored three times in the final two innings to take down Wayne State 3-2 in Allendale, Mich. Junior Nick Beach improved to 6-0 on the year with the win while allowing just two earned runs in his seven innings of action. The Lakers will host Northwood in a GLIAC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 18 at 2 pm at the Laker Baseball Field.

Beach found himself in a little bit of trouble in the first two innings as Wayne State sent five batters to the plate in each inning. Beach was able to force groundouts to end each inning and to keep the Warriors at bay. WSU was able to get to the right-hander in the fourth tallying a double and an RBI single to go up 1-0.

The Lakers struggled to get anything going in the beginning of the contest, registering just one hit and two base runners through the first five innings. The sixth inning was a different story as the Laker bats finally got to starter Kyle Hill. SS Dan Skirka evened the score at one when he drove a pitch to the opposite field that cleared the right field fence for his fourth home run of the year. The Lakers nearly took the lead in the inning, loading up the bases after Skirka's blast, but were unable to come up with a crucial hit as C Nick Smith popped up to the shortstop and a ball that was lined to left field by DH Casey Robrahn was caught.

Beach faced some trouble in the top of the seventh as he hit the first two batters before giving up a sacrifice fly that gave the Warriors a 2-1 lead. The Lakers would not go quietly in their final at bat for the second consecutive day. 1B Cory Maguire got things going with one out when he lined a ball that bounced off the third baseman's glove and into left field. GVSU then took advantage of a Warrior miscue when LF Matt Nickels hit a ball to the first baseman who then turned and threw to second to cut down Maguire. The first baseman's throw pulled the shortstop off the base making both runners safe. SS Dan Skirka then watched four straight balls to load the bases for the hero of the day, Lee VanStreain. The senior drove an 0-1 pitch to left field that dropped in front of the left fielder to plate Scott Cain, who pinch ran for Maguire, and Nickels to give GVSU the 3-2 win. Nickels was nearly at third base when the ball dropped in, reading the play perfectly to easily score.

VanStreain was 3-4 in the contest with the two critical RBIs. The Lakers managed seven hits in the game, six of which came in the final two innings of play. Nick Beach ties fellow Laker starter, Vince Rizzi, with his sixth win of the year and owns a 1.36 ERA on the season.