March 27, 2008

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State University started conference play with a split against Hillsdale College on Wednesday, March 26. The No. 4 Lakers took game one by a final score of 7-6 in eight innings and then lost game two 5-4. In the first game, Derek Hinke went 5-5 with three runs batted in, including the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth. GVSU is now 14-2 on the season and 1-1 in GLIAC play.

Grand Valley State notched seven runs on 14 hits in the first game, while Hillsdale managed six runs on six hits. Nick Beach pitched the first 4.2 innings, giving up six runs, three earned, on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. Joe Jablonski (3-0) earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up no runs on three hits. Jablonski struck out four and walked one. Hinke's great performance at the plate was complemented by one by Pat Radde. Radde went 4-5 with two runs scored and another two brought in.

The Chargers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with one hit and two errors. The Lakers cut that lead in half by notching a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Radde singled and was advanced to third before scoring on a groundout by Justin Beal. GVSU tied the game up one inning later when Bobby Walmsley started the inning with a single. Two sacrifice hits moved him over to third and Radde's second single sent him home. GVSU took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with three more runs on three hits. A Radde single scored Dan Andstedt and then a single by Hinke scored by Radde and Matt Nickels to put the Lakers up 5-2.

The Lakers found themselves trailing again after Hillsdale scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Chargers managed four runs on two hits in the inning, which marked Beach's last inning of work. Cory Maguire got on base after being hit by a pitch to start the inning. Brad Raj advanced him to second and then Anstedt sent him home on a single to left field, tying the game at 6-6. Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. Nickels singled to start the bottom of the eighth and then advanced to second on a single by Radde. When both runners advanced on an error by the pitcher, Josh Hillyard was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Hinke singled to left-center, ending the game with a 7-6 victory for Grand Valley State.

In game two, Grand Valley racked up four runs on four hits, while Hillsdale scored five runs on six hits. Brad Raj pitched five innings for the Lakers, giving up three hits and four earned runs. He also walked two and struck out two. David Bowman pitched the final two innings for GVSU and was the pitcher of record for the Lakers, giving up three hits and one run with four strikeouts. Radde had another strong game, going 2-3 at the plate with one run scored and another brought in.

Hillsdale scored their first run on an RBI-groundout to third base in the top of the first inning. Grand Valley State got that run back, and more, when they scored three in the bottom of the frame. Radde started the inning with a single to left field, followed by a sacrifice by Hillyard to move him over. A single by Hinke sent Radde to third, and then a triple by Justin Beal scored both Radde and Hinke. Beal came home later in the inning on a passed ball, making the score 3-1 in favor of Grand Valley State. The Lakers tacked on another run in the bottom of second inning when Bobby Walmsley, who walked with one out, scored on a single up the middle by Radde, giving GVSU a 4-1 advantage.

Grand Valley State held onto that advantage until the top of the sixth, when the Chargers tied the game at 4-4 with three runs on two hits with an error. They also left two runners on base that inning. A home run by the Chargers' Dan Fodell in the top of the seventh put them up 5-4 with just one half-inning remaining. Anstedt walked to start the inning, went to second on a sacrifice and then to third on a throw from right field, but Scott Cain grounded out to second base to end the inning and the game.