April 29, 2007

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #6 Grand Valley State split a GLIAC twinbill Sunday versus Findlay at the Laker Baseball Field. Findlay won the opener, 6-3, but the Lakers regrouped and claimed a 25-15 win in game two. GVSU is now 34-5 overall and 22-4 in GLIAC action. The Lakers will host Calvin College in a single nine-inning game Tuesday, before heading to Midland to take on Northwood Wednesday in a GLIAC doubleheader.

Game two Saturday was one for the ages if you wanted to see a lot of runs and hits. Findlay struck first in the top of the first with five runs on five hits. But the Lakers answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Dan Skirka started with a double, followed by a Spud McKenzie HR to right. Nick Smith drove a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence for HR to pull the Lakers within two (5-3). Casey Robrahn singled and Pat Radde tripled in Robrahn as the Lakers scored four runs on five hits. The Oilers scored a single run in the top of the second to take a 6-4 lead, but that is when the fireworks started. GVSU scored 11 runs on nine hits in the bottom of the second. The first nine batters that stepped to the plate reached base, seven via a hit. Smith drove in two with a bases loaded single and Casey Robrahn drilled a 3-run HR to right. When the inning finally ended GVSU led 15-6.

Findlay continued to battle with three in the third and five in the fourth and trailed by one (15-14) when GVSU came to bat in the bottom of the fourth. Casey Robrahn, who came in to pitch in the fourth and earned the win, helped his cause with a 2-run single. Robrahn set the Oilers down in order in the fifth and GVSU added two more runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth for a 19-14 lead. Findlay scored a single run in the top of the sixth, but GVSU added six runs on seven hits in the bottom half of the sixth. The Lakers batted around for the second time in six innings. Lee VanStreain drove in two with a single and Spud McKenzie added a 2-run double before Derek Hinke homered.

Seven Lakers recorded three or more hits and all nine startes had at least two hits. Casey Robrahn was 4-6 with a career-high five RBIs and earned the pitching win with 2.2 innings of work in which he yielded two runs on two hits with three strikeouts. McKenzie was 4-5 with five RBIs, while VanStreain and Smith each drove in four runs. Pat Radde notched four hits, while Dan Skirka was 3-4 with two RBI and four runs scored. Corey Maguire tallied three hits, Matt Nickels and Derek Hinke two each. The Lakers pounded out 28 hits en route to scoring its 25 runs.

GVSU led game one by a 2-1 margin, but Findlay scored five in th top of the fifth, the big blow being a grand slam by 2B Chad Geuy. Findlay led 1-0 before Casey Robrahn singled to center to score Hinke in the third. The Lakers then took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth as Dan Skirka scored Steve Strutz who opened the inning with a single. GVSU threatened in the bottom of the sixth when they loaded the bases and then scored a single run in the bottom of the seventh. The Lakers left 11 runners on base.

Vince Rizzi took the loss, yielding five runs on four hits in 4.1 innings of work Rizzi recorded five strikeouts. The Lakers outhit Findlay 10-7.