May 18, 2007

Box Score

Akron, Ohio - The last-at-bat Lakers strike again, this time in the bottom of the ninth of a game tied, 5-5. RF Derek Hinke doubled to left center with two out and a two strike count. His double plated Lee VanStreain who singled with one out and gave the Lakers a 6-5 win. Grand Valley State (44-7) advances to the winners bracket game on Saturday at 11 a.m. versus the winner of the Saginaw Valley State-Southern Indiana game slated for Friday night at 8:50 p.m. Southern Illinois-Edwardsville closes the season at 37-17.

The bottom of the ninth started with a CF Pat Radde flying out to left. 3B Lee VanStreain singled to left on a 2-2 pitch, but 2B Spud McKenzie flied out the left to set up the dramatic at bat by RF Derek Hinke. The junior sent a 2-2 pitch to the wall in left center scoring VanSteain easily from first.

"The kids continued to battle until the final out and we had key players come up clutch in key situations," said head coach Steve Lyon.

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville got the bats going early with a pair of runs on two hits in the top of the first. 1B Adam Doll hit a two-run double past a diving Cory Maguire at first base. The Cougars put three on the board in the fifth on three hits and a Laker error. SIUE added three runs on three hits and a Laker error in the top of the fifth. SS Cory Bunner singled in one run and Daniel Thomson doubled to left center to plate two runs.

The Laker struck back quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Radde singled with one out, followed by a VanStreain single. 2B Spud McKenzie tripled to the right corner scoring Radde and VanStreain. RF Derek Hinke walked and stole second. C Nick Smith single up the middle to score a pair and pull the Lakers to within one run (5-4). Neither team scored again until the bottom of the eighth. DH Casey Robrahn singled to center and then stole second. SS Dan Skirka singled to center on a 2-2 count to score Robrahn and tie the game.

Eric Snyder came in to pitch the ninth and VanStreain made a diving stop on a grounder headed for the left field corner and made the throw to first for the out. SIUE advanced a runner to second, but with two out Radde made a diving catch in center to end the Cougar threat and set up the ninth.

Freshman Danny Richard tossed the first eight innings, striking out 11 and yielding five runs, two of which were earned. Snyder pitched a scoreless ninth and upped his record to 4-0. Adam Schneider took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings. Adam Tallman went the first 6.2 innings, yielding four runs on nine hits.

Lee VanStreain was 3-5 with two runs scored, while Nick Smith drove in a pair on two hits. Casey Robrahn, Dan Skirka and Spud McKenzie each collected a pair of hits, with McKenzie driving in two.

The Lakers won in their last at bat for the eighth time this season, including the third time in the last four games. GVSU is 91-16 in the last two years.