April 28, 2007

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #6 Grand Valley State swept a GLIAC doubleheader from Findlay Saturday afternoon at the Laker Baseball Field. GVSU won the opener by a 12-2 margin, followed by a 5-0 shutout win in game two. The Lakers improve to 33-4 overall and 21-3 in GLIAC play. Grand Valley State and Findlay will conclude its four-game series Sunday with two more games beginning at 12 noon.

Findlay struck first in the opener as a walk and wild pitched, followed by a single to center plated the first run of the game in the top of the second. The Lakers tied the contest with a single run in the bottom half of the frame. Nick Smith walked and advanced to second when Derek Hinke was hit by a pitch. Smith advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Casey Robrahn. Pat Radded plated Smith for the Lakers' first run of the game.

GVSU broke the game open in the bottom of the third with four runs on four hits. Lee VanStreain and Spud McKenzie each singled with one out. Nick Smith followed with an RBI single to right field. Hinke loaded the bases when he was hit for the second time in the game. Casey Robrahn then drove a 1-2 pitch to right field to plate a pair of runs. A Radde sac fly to left field scored the fourth run for the Lakers. Grand Valley State added a pair of runs in the fourth as Smith scored VanStreain with a single to center and Hinke's double to left center scored Smith. The Lakers scored five in the fifth to up its lead to 12-1. VanStreain drew a bases load walk, followed by a sac fly by McKenzie. Smith the drove a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence for a 3-run HR. Findlay scored a single run on one hit in the seventh for the final margin of 12-2.

Nick Beach improved to 8-0 on the year with the complete game win. Beach allowed one run in 5.2 innings with three strikeouts and just one walk. Nick Smith was 3-3 with five RBIs and four runs scored, while Robrahn and Radde each drove in a pair of runs. VanStreain scored three runs.

Game two was a pitchers dual through the first four innings as the Lakers managed just two hits to Findlay's three. It looked as if the game would remain scoreless as the first two Laker hitters were retired on just five pitches. However, freshman first baseman Corey Maguire singled to center, followed by a Dan Skirka single to left. VanStreain then battled and doubled to right center on a 1-2 pitch to score Maguire and give GVSU a 1-0 lead. MacKenzie then doubled to right center to score Skirka and VanStreain and give GVSU a 3-0 lead. GVSU added two runs in the sixth on three hits. Hinke opend the inning with a single and went to third on a single by Robrahn. Radded scored Hinke on a sac fly and Robrahn later scored on a single by Maguire.

Freshman Danny Richard improved to 5-0 on the year with the complete game shutout victory. Richard yielded just three hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Maguire was 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored, MaKenzie drove in a pair of runs on one hit. Hinke added a pair of hits and scored a run.