May 15, 2008

Box Score

Crestwood, Ill. - Northern Kentucky scored five runs in the top of the 11th inning en route to a 9-4 victory over Grand Valley State in NCAA DII North Central Regional first-round action Thursday at Stadard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, Ill. Grand Valley State will now player the loser of the St. Joseph's College-Wayne State contest Friday morning at 10 a.m. (ET). GVSU falls to 34-12, while Northern Kentucky improves to 38-22.

Grand Valley State struck first in the bottom of the first when 2B Josh Hillyard was hit by a pitch and then advanced to third on single to right by RF Derek Hinke. LF Casey Robrahn then lofted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Hillyard. Northern Kentucky tied the game in the top of the second with a solo HR to left and then took the lead with one run in the top of the third on three hits. CF Matt Nickels walked and went to second on a balk in the bottom of the third. Hillyard then singled to deep short and Nickels advanced to third. Casey Robrahn notched his second RBI on the day with a hard shot up the middle to score Nickels and tie the game at two.

Grand Valley State scored a pair of runs in the seventh on three hits to take a 4-2 lead. Robrahn singled, followed by a single from 1B Cory Maguire. 3B Brad Raj doubled to left, scoring Robrahn and Maguire. Raj advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was unable to score as Pat Radde and Dan Anstedt were retired. Northern Kentucky scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to tie the game at 4-4, then scored five in the top of the 11th on three hits to pick up the win.

GVSU pounded out 14 hits, but left 13 runners on base. Robrahn, Hinke and Anstedt each collected three hits. Robrahn drove in two runs, while Raj's double provided two RBIs. Andre Benjamin started and pitched a solid eight innings. Benjamin yielded three runs on seven hits, but was not involved in the decision. Nick Beach was tagged with the loss, yielding four runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.