March 6, 2010

Box Score

Clermont, Fla. - On day two of its spring trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., Grand Valley State posted an 8-0 shutout of Lycoming before falling to #6 Winona State by a score of 7-0. GVSU pounded out 14 base hits by 10 different players in the opening game on Saturday (Mar. 6), as freshman Katie Martin threw a complete-game one-hitter and was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.

Grand Valley State is now 2-3 on the season after an opening day doubleheader in which the Lakers fell to Dominican and Winona State before dominating Cedarville, 15-2. On Saturday against Lycoming (2-3), GVSU did all its damage in three innings, posting three runs in both the first and fourth innings and ending the game with a pair of runs in the fifth frame.

In the first inning, senior Becky Plummer singled and Martin doubled, while both players then scored on a two-run double from senior Breanne Kronberg. Two batters later, Kronberg was driven home by a single from senior Stephanee Schrader to push ahead, 3-0. Right fielder Tina Briggs led off the fourth inning with a single and scored from first on Plummer's RBI triple. The very next batter, Martin singled home Plummer for a 5-0 lead. After Kronberg reached on a fielder's choice, freshman Kayleigh Bertram doubled to left center, driving in Kronberg for a 6-0 Laker advantage.

GVSU ended the game in the fifth inning due to mercy rule by scoring twice. An RBI single to center field off the bat of Jackie Teutsch scored Maggie Kopas, who walked with one out. Teutsch then scored the final run of the game after Martin collected an infield single, driving in the Lakers' eighth run of the day.

Not to be overshadowed by the GVSU offense was Martin's pitching performance. At the plate, Martin was 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI. However, on the mound, she picked up her second win in as many starts, allowing just one base hit in five innings. Martin struck out four batters and did not allow a walk. Plummer went 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring twice, while Bertram picked up a two-hit game and an RBI. Kronberg drove in a pair of runs for the Lakers, while also scoring twice.

In the second game of the day, #6 Winona State (3-0) equaled its ranking by scoring six runs in the top of the first off Laker starter Andrea Nicholson. The Warriors tallied six runs on seven hits, but would not score again until the seventh inning. Nicholson did a good job in the middle innings, allowing just two hits total in innings two, three, four, five, and six. She was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on 13 hits. Nicholson struck out three batters.

The Laker offense struggled against Winona State starter Stacey Struzynski, who fanned nine batters in seven innings. GVSU recorded six base hits, including a 2-for-3 performance from sophomore catcher Carli Raisutis. Freshman Nellie Kosola smacked a triple in the fifth inning, but was unable to score. Briggs, Bertram, and shortstop Becky Gill also recorded base hits in the loss.

Grand Valley State will play a doubleheader on Sunday (Mar. 7), taking on Post at 1:30 p.m. and West Liberty State at 5:30 p.m.