May 1, 2009

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - Grand Valley State notched a four-run sixth inning for a come-from-behind victory over Wayne State in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament on Friday afternoon (May 1). The Lakers' big inning was enough as GVSU advanced with a 4-1 victory over the Warriors.

The win puts Grand Valley State at 32-16 overall, while Wayne State falls to 34-13. GVSU entered the game as the tournament's #5 seed, while WSU was the GLIAC's #4 seed. With the victory, the Lakers move onto the second round of the conference tournament, where they will face top-seeded Ashland at 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Wayne State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a solo home run. From that point on, GVSU starter Lori Andjelich was dominant, not allowing another run and giving up just one more basehit. The Lakers gave Andjelich the run support she needed in the top of the sixth inning.

Junior Rebecca Plummer led off the inning with a hit by pitch. Next up, leftfielder Karen Walters laid down a bunt single, which was followed by a single down the left field line by second baseman Maggie Kerrigan. One out later with the bases still loaded, senior shortstop Nichole Woityra hit a fly ball to right field. The ball was dropped in the outfield, however, as both Plummer and Walters scored. Woityra was still given credit for a sacrifice fly and the Lakers led, 2-1.

On the very next pitch, senior Breanne Kronberg delivered an RBI single to center field, scoring Kerrigan. Freshman Carli Raisutis then struck out, but advanced to first base on a wild pitch. On the wild pitch, Woityra moved from third base to home for the fourth run of the inning and a 4-1 GVSU lead.

Andjelich retired the final 12 batters of the game to earn the victory and improve to 18-8 on the year. In seven innings, she gave up just three hits and one run, without a walk. Andjelich fanned three batters.

No player in the game for either team had more than one hit apiece, as each team recorded just three base hits.