April 17, 2010

Final Stats

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State fell to Ashland in a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon (April 17) in Allendale. The Lakers dropped game one, 8-1, before AU closed the twinbill with a 9-1 victory in the second game. GVSU is now 20-14 overall with an 8-6 record in the GLIAC.

It was a tough day offensively for the Lakers, as Ashland entered the game as the #2 team in the region and sends out arguably the best one-two combination of pitchers in the conference. GVSU managed seven hits in the two games, as AU improves to 25-9 on the season, 14-4 in league play. Grand Valley State's current three-game losing streak is its longest of the season.

Neither team got on the board in game one until the fourth inning when the Eagles took a 3-0 lead, with the big blow coming on a two-run single from Sam Hendrix. GVSU was able to get a run back in the bottom of the frame, as catcher Carli Raisutis doubled down the left field line, driving in freshman Kayleigh Bertram, who led off the inning with a double to left center. On the same play, pinch runner Tina Briggs was thrown out at home plate, trying to score from first base on the Raisutis double. It took a perfect relay from Ashland to barely get Briggs at home plate, halting a potential Laker rally.

Ashland responded with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning, to open up the game with a 6-1 advantage. The Eagles would tally two more runs in the sixth frame to close out the scoring and earn the 8-1 win. It was more than enough run support for AU starter Emlyn Knerem, who improves to 15-2 on the year and is one of the top pitchers in the region. She allowed just four hits, while walking three and striking out 10 batters.

For the Lakers, they totaled four hits and all four base knocks were doubles. Raisutis, Bertram, freshman Nellie Kosola, and senior Lesley Bates all recorded two-baggers in the opening game. In the circle for GVSU was senior Lauren Rohan, who allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits in 4.2 innings of work. The loss puts her at 2-3 on the year. Sophomore Becky Gill finished the game with 2.1 innings of one-hit ball, allowing two unearned runs in her first collegiate pitching performance.

In game two, Ashland jumped out to a 6-0 lead after four innings, as the Eagles tallied a run in the second inning, three in the third, and a pair in the fourth frame. GVSU loaded the bases in the top of the fifth with two outs against Eagle pitcher Logan Hursey (10-7) and pushed a run across the plate, as freshman Katie Martin drove in a run on a fielder's choice play at third base. Next up was Raisutis, who hit a towering flyball to centerfield. The windy conditions brought the ball back towards the infield and almost dropped between a pair of AU fielders, but the centerfielder managed to hold onto the ball as it nearly popped out of her glove. At that point, two GVSU runners had already crossed home plate and Martin was rounding third base. Those three runs would have made the score, 6-4, if the ball fell in the outfield.

The Eagles then scored three runs in the bottom of the inning, ending the game by the eight-run mercy rule. Hursey allowed just three hits in five innings for Ashland, striking out six batters. For GVSU, Martin fell to 10-5 on the season, giving up nine runs (five earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings of work. She also had one of the Lakers' three base hits, as senior Breanne Kronberg and Briggs both went 1-for-2 in the nightcap.

GVSU returns to the field on Sunday (April 18) for a twinbill against Tiffin starting at noon.