March 27, 2009

Box Score

Tiffin, Ohio - Grand Valley State claimed a pair of GLIAC wins at Tiffin Friday afternoon, winning game one 5-2 and game two 8-3. GVSU improves its record to 23-3 overall and 7-1 in GLIAC action. GVSU and Tiffin will complete its three-game series Saturday at 12 noon.

Game 1

Tiffin started quickly off starter Danny Richard with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on three hits. After retiring the first two batters, Richard yielded a single to CF Ty Blake, who then advanced to second on an error by Richard. DH Jason Bailey drove in Blake with a single and Bailey scored on a double by RF Bobby Mullin. GVSU got on the board in the top of the second on two hits and a Tiffin error. 1B Cory Maguire walked and went to second on a single by DH Ben Knuth. Freshman SS Steve Anderson singled to drive in Maguire and pull the Lakers within a run (2-1).

Grand Valley State took the lead for good in the fourth (3-2) when CF Casey Robrahn walked and came home Anderson's 2-run shot. 3B Brad Raj singled to open the sixth and went to second on a passed ball. Robrahn single home Raj to up the Laker lead to 4-2. The Laker manufactured another run in the top of the seventh when LF Matt Nickels singled, stole second and came home on a single from RF Cody Grice.

Richard, who improved to 5-0 on the year, settled down and yielded just three hits after the first inning. Richard recorded three strikeouts and allowed six to reach base after the first inning. Anderson was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and his second homer of the year, while Grice was 2-for-4 and drove in a run. GVSU scored five runs on seven hits, while Tiffin was limited to two runs on six hits.

Game 2

Grand Valley State started quickly as 2B Kyle Gendron singled, stole second and came home on 1B Cory Maguire's seventh HR of the year. Maguire's 2-run shot gave GVSU a 2-0 lead. DH Ben Knuth followed with the first of his four singles and CF Casey Robrahn reached on an error that scored Knuth. Tiffin scored a single run in the bottom of the first Ty Blake reached after he was hit by a pitch, went to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Jason Bailey.

Tiffin tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on one hit, two walks, a wild pitch, a passed ball and three stolen bases. However, the Lakers answered with three runs in the top of the fifth on three hits and two Tiffin errors. RF Cody Grice singled and advanced to second on a single by 3B Brad Raj. Maguire reached on an error to load the bases and then DH Ben Knuth drove in Grice and Raj with a single to center. Maguire also scored on Knuth's single when the CF committed a throwing error. GVSU sealed the win in the top of the seventh with a Raj double and Maguire 2-run HR.

Andre Benjamin upped his record to 5-0 on the year with the complete game win. Benjamin struckout six and allowed three runs on five hits. DH Ben Knuth was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and one run scored. Maguire was 2-for-4 with four RBIs an three runs scored, while Raj was 2-for-4 with two runs. GVSU pounded out 11 hits.