March 23, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State senior 1B Cory Maguire delivered a bases load single with no outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Lakers to a 7-6 GLIAC victory over Northwood Tuesday (Mar. 23). GVSU improved to 14-3 overall and 6-0 in GLIAC action, while Northwood falls to 9-7 and 2-2. GVSU will host Ashland Wednesday at the Laker Baseball Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

The Lakers and Timberwolves played for nearly four hours in what was suppose to be game one of doubleheader Tuesday. Due to the length of the first game the second game was not played and will be moved to April 10-11 as part of a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader at Northwood.

Northwood's CF Matt Czajkowski opened the game with a walk and a stolen base, followed by a one-out double down the right field line by 1B Brett Lechner that scored Czajkowski. GVSU answered in the bottom of the first when CF Cody Grice beat out a slow roller and stole second. 2B Kyle Gendron singled to center to plate Grice and tie the game at 1-1. Northwood added another run the top of the third, but once again the Lakers answered. 3B Cory Phillips was hit by a pitch to open the third and Grice followed with a single to right. DH Brian Robinson walked to load the bases and Gendron scored Phillips with a sac fly. Grice was caught attempting to steal third and Maguire grouned out to end the inning. Northwood picked up another run in the top of the fourth on two hits, but GVSU put two more runs up on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame. SS Andre Trepel reached on a throwing error by the 3B Andy Bouchard and RF Paul Young then doubled down the leftfield line. C Jared Cowen singled home Trepel and Young then scored on a sac fly by Phillips.

Northwood tied the game in the top of the fifth with one run on three hits, but as in the innings before GVSU answered. Gendron walked with one out and moved to third on a single to right by Maguire. Gendron came home on a fielder's choice from DH Steve Anderson to give the Lakers a 5-4 lead. Freshman Brad Zambron came in for starter Kyle Schepel in the sixth and retired Northwood in order. However, C Ryan Palmer doubled to left to open the seventh and pinch runner Jordan Turner was sacraficed to third by RF Jake Oard. Turner scored on a single to left by 2B Michael Goodwin. Northwood 1B Casey Ingle delivered a one-out double to left in the top of the 10th. Mark Heard was a pinch runner for Ingle and advanced to third on a groundout from 2B Pat Schlenke. SS Zach Lecker doubled home Heard to give the Timberwolves a 6-5 lead.

LF Chris Rudenga went down swinging to open the 10th for the Lakers, before Trepel singled sharply to center. Young reached on a fielder's choice and stole second to get in scoring position. Cowan walked before Phillips delivered a full count single to right center to score Young. Dan Ponegalek, who was pinch running for Cowan, tried to scored from first on the Phillips single but was thrown out at home plate. Zambron retired Northwood in order in the top of the 11th to set up the dramatic bottom half of the frame. Grice doubled to left and advanced to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. C Zach Laupp and Gendron were intentionally walked to set up Maguire's game-winning single to left to score Grice.

Zambron improved to 2-0 on the year, yielding two runs on four hits in six innings of work. Schepel gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings. Grice collected three hits (3-6) for the fifth time in the last six games and scored two runs. Gendron drove in a pair on one hit and drew a pair of walks. Phillips also drove in two runs, including a key single in the 10th to send the contest into the 11th. Maguire and Young also collected two hits each.