April 15, 2009

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State battled #6 Ferris State for both games of their Wednesday (April 15) doubleheader and outhit the Bulldogs, but dropped the twinbill, 4-2 and 4-1. The Lakers totaled 16 base hits in the two games, compared to a dozen for FSU.

The losses put GVSU at 30-11 overall with a 10-6 GLIAC mark, while Ferris State improves to 28-4 overall and 14-2 in league play. Grand Valley State played right along with the Bulldogs, who advanced to the Division II World Series last season. The Lakers outhit Ferris State in both games, but GVSU stranded 23 runners in the twinbill.

In the opener, neither team was able to put more than one run together in an inning. FSU jumped on the board first on an RBI double from Amanda Jager in the top of the first inning. That scored Amanda Harrington, who drew a one-out walk. Ferris State upped the lead to 2-0 with a solo homer from Makenzi Peterson to lead off the second inning.

Grand Valley State cut the lead in half on an RBI double to left center field from third baseman Becky Rudenga. The double pushed Becky Plummer, who singled, to third base. GVSU loaded the bases with nobody out as Karen Walters was hit by a pitch, but Ferris State struck out the next two batters and forced a ground out to end the inning at 2-1.

The Lakers evened the score in the third inning on another run-scoring hit from Rudenga. Her RBI single to right field scored Breanne Kronberg, who walked to start the frame. With runners on the corners and two out, FSU managed to get out of the inning unscathed with the game tied at 2-2.

Ferris State quickly responded with solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Shannon Roney singled up the middle for an RBI, scoring Peterson for the eventual game-winning run. The Bulldogs added a run in the fifth, as leadoff hitter Rachel Wade scored on a wild pitch after doubling to start the inning.

Grand Valley State had chances in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not push any runs across the plate. The Lakers stranded at least one runner in all seven innings and had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but Ferris State prevailed.

Senior pitcher Lori Andjelich (17-5) lost for the first time since Mar. 30 when she dropped a 3-2, 11-inning game at Ferris State. She gave up four runs on six hits, while walking three batters and striking out five. FSU pitcher Holly Bruntjens (11-3) gave up five walks and seven hits, but struck out seven and allowed just a pair of runs.

Rudenga led the Laker offense with a 2-for-4 performance and both GVSU runs batted in. Kronberg and first baseman Stephanee Schrader both walked twice.

Game two was changed early on one swing. With two outs in the bottom of the second inning and two runners on, Lynsay Weaver blasted her fourth homer of the year to left center, putting FSU ahead 3-0.

Grand Valley State got on the board with a solo homer from Kronberg in the top of the fifth. It was her fourth homer of the year and the shot to left field made the score, 3-1. Ferris State responded in the home half of the inning with an RBI groundout for a 4-1 lead and the final tally of the game.

The Lakers managed nine hits in game two, but stranded 10 base runners, including at least one runner in five of the seven innings. Schrader and freshman Carli Raisutis both had two base hits, as Schrader went 2-for-4 with a double and Raisutis was 2-for-3 with a walk.

Junior Lauren Rohan (8-5) allowed just six hits in six innings of work, while walking two batters and striking out four. GVSU's nine hits were off of the Bulldogs' Kayle Stevenson (8-0), but the Lakers only pushed one run across the plate. Stevenson also walked two and recorded four strikeouts.

Tomorrow, Grand Valley State heads to Saginaw Valley State for a 3:30 twinbill with the Cardinals.