March 30, 2009

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - GVSU lost for the first time since Mar. 7, dropping both games of a GLIAC doubleheader at #6 Ferris State on Monday (Mar. 30) in Big Rapids, Mich. The Lakers entered the twinbill with a 16-game winning streak, falling 3-2 in 11 innings and 6-1 in the nightcap.

The losses put Grand Valley State at 22-7 on the year, 2-2 in the GLIAC. Ferris State improves to 16-2 and 2-0 in league play. The Lakers' last loss came to West Virginia Wesleyan in a 2-0 defeat more than three weeks ago in Clermont, Fla. at the NTC Spring Games.

In the lid-lifter, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 1-0 lead on GVSU senior Lori Andjelich with a sacrifice fly from catcher Krystle Bailey in the first inning. The Lakers tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning as junior Rebecca Plummer singled through the left side, scoring Amanda Rumsey. Rumsey was running for junior Breanne Kronberg, who reached on a one-out double.

The game remained tied at 1-1 and went into extra innings. Grand Valley State scored in the top of the 10th inning, as shortstop Nichole Woityra doubled home Karen Walters, who was placed on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. The Lakers had two runners on with one out, but could not push either runner home. Ferris State answered with a two-out RBI single from third baseman Makenzie Peterson to tie the game at 2-2.

GVSU had runners on second and third with two outs in the 11th inning, but the Bulldogs retired Walters on a pop-up. In the home half of the frame, FSU centerfielder Rachel Wade doubled to left center for a 3-2 win, scoring Lynsay Weaver, who started the inning on second base.

It was quite the pitcher's duel, as both teams managed just six hits in 11 innings. Andjelich (12-4) tossed 10 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on half a dozen hits. She walked a pair of batters and recorded seven strikeouts. A pair of FSU pitchers combined for 11 innings, striking out nine and allowing three hits apiece.

Kronberg was the lone Laker with more than one base hit, going 2-for-4 in the game. Woityra, Kronberg, and Walters all tallied doubles for GVSU. For Ferris State, Wade notched four of the six Bulldog hits, driving in a run and adding an RBI.

Both teams scored a run in the opening inning of game two, with FSU getting an RBI single from Bailey and GVSU answering with a run-scoring double from Woityra. Freshman Maggie Kerrigan scored the Lakers' only run, moving home on Woityra's extra-base hit after leading the inning off with a hit by pitch.

Ferris State added another run in the sixth inning off of starter Lauren Rohan (6-2) before notching four runs in the seventh. A three-run blast by FSU's Rhea Flores put the game out of reach, as the Lakers could muster just one run on seven hits.

Rohan pitched six total innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. She re-entered the game after Andejich pitched in relief, giving up four runs on four hits in one inning. Plummer and centerfielder Tina Briggs both tallied two hits for GVSU.

The Lakers return to the field on Saturday (April 4) for a 1:00 p.m. GLIAC doubleheader at Northwood.