May 1, 2009

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - Grand Valley State battled back from a two-run deficit, but fell in the bottom of the seventh inning to Ashland in the second round of the GLIAC Tournament on Friday afternoon (May 1). The Lakers tied the score at 2-2 before AU tallied a walk-off RBI single to total a 3-2 victory.

The loss puts fifth-seeded GVSU at 32-17 overall, while top-seeded Ashland is now 36-10. Grand Valley State will face Tiffin on Saturday morning (May 2) at 10 a.m. The loser of that game will be eliminated, while the winning team will advance to face the winner of the Wayne State/Ferris State game, which is also being played at 10 a.m.

A pitcher's duel for the first three innings was broken in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ashland took a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run from Shannon Gray. The Lakers answered with two runs in the sixth inning, as the 2-3-4 hitters led the comeback.

To start the top of the sixth frame, senior shortstop Nichole Woityra singled up the middle. Junior Breanne Kronberg followed with a double down the left field line that scored Woityra all the way from first base to make the score 2-1. Amanda Rumsey pinch-ran for Kronberg and was pushed to third base on a single up the middle from freshman Carli Raisutis.

Ashland made a pitching change and received consecutive strikeouts to leave the Lakers with runners on the corners and two outs. A passed ball from AU pitcher Emlyn Knerem scored Rumsey to tie the game at 2-2.

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh when Ashland loaded the bases with one out and used a single from Alyssa Kelley to end the game with a 3-2 win.

Senior Lori Andjelich started for the second consecutive game and pitched 3.1 strong innings, allowing two runs on three hits. She walked two batters and struck out one. Junior Lauren Rohan (9-8) relieved Andjelich and gave up just one run on four hits, without walking a batter.

Woityra recorded a multi-hit game, as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Becky Rudenga and junior Tina Briggs also tallied a base hit in a low-scoring contest.