March 28, 2010
Box Score
Allendale, Mich. - #12 Grand Valley State University avoided a weekend sweep at the hands of Tiffin today, as they used a sacrifice fly from Andrew Trepel in the bottom of the ninth inning to take a 5-4 victory over the Dragons. Two Tiffin homeruns kept them in the game, but timely offense from the Lakers got them a hard fought victory.
The Lakers got the scoring started early, pushing their first run across in the bottom of the first inning after Cody Grice had a single to start the game, was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored after he stole third base and the catcher's throw sailed into left field.
Grand Valley State put another run up in the bottom of the third, as a Giancarlo Brugnoni fielder's choice brought home Brian Robinson, who had reached on a walk to lead off the inning. The Lakers led 2-0 before Tiffin responded in the top of the fourth, as a Hornyak single and Rudolph walk brought catcher Jason Kulp to the plate, who dropped a single into the left field gap to bring Hornyak in from second, making it a 2-1 game.
Tiffin battled back to a tie in the top of the sixth, as Jason Bailey turned on an inside pitch by Kyle Schepel and drove it down the right field line for a solo homerun to lead off the inning, tying the game at two. The Lakers responded with a homerun of their own in the bottom of the seventh, as Kyle Gendron drove his second ball of the season out of the park for a two-run shot, putting the Lakers back up 4-2.
Kulp again led the Dragons back though, as he hit a two-run homer over the scoreboard in left field with nobody out in the top of the ninth, setting the table up for a walk-off win in the bottom half of the inning for the Lakers. Steve Anderson got it started with a one-out double down the left field line, and moved to third as Cory Maguire reached on a fielding error by the Tiffin shortstop. After a pitching change, Trepel looped a fly ball along the right field line, and the Tiffin fielder lined it up for a throw to home after the catch, but dropped the ball as he attempted to make the grab, allowing Anderson to score from third and giving the Lakers a 5-4 victory.
Schepel got the victory for the Lakers, pitching all nine innings and allowing seven hits, four runs, and two walks while striking out four. Leading the offense for Grand Valley State was Gendron, going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run, and Anderson who went 3-for-5 with a run as well. Grice, Robinson, Paul Young, and Chris Rudenga also each had one hit for the Lakers.
Grand Valley State moved to 17-5 (9-2 GLIAC) on the season, and will take the field again on Wednesday (Mar. 31) for a doubleheader against Hillsdale, slated to begin at 2 pm.
