April 22, 2010

Box Score

Midland, Mich. - Grand Valley State dropped a road doubleheader at Northwood on Thursday afternoon (April 22), falling to the Timberwolves 6-5 in the opener and 5-0 in game two. The Lakers led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning of game one before Northwood plated three runs for a comeback victory that spoiled a 4-for-4 performance from sophomore catcher Carli Raisutis.

The sweep puts GVSU at 22-18 overall with a 10-10 record in the GLIAC, while Northwood improves to 21-12 on the year with a 13-3 league tally. Grand Valley State handed the Timberwolves one of their three losses this season, beating NU by a 13-2 final score on April 2 in Allendale.

Northwood took an early 1-0 lead in game one on an RBI double, but that was quickly answered by Raisutis in the top of the second inning. She blasted her fourth homerun of the season to left field to tie the game at 1-1. Raisutis also homered against Saginaw Valley State on Wednesday afternoon. It was just the beginning of a strong game at the plate for Raisutis.

The Timberwolves would tack on single runs in the fourth and fifth frames, moving ahead 3-1. GVSU took the lead in the top of the sixth inning by tallying three runs on four base hits. Senior Breanne Kronberg notched an infield single, Raisutis singled up the middle, and senior Stephanee Schrader drove in Kronberg with an RBI single to right center field. Schrader stole second to put runners on second and third for Rebecca Plummer, who singled to through the left side, scoring Raisutis to tie the game at 3-3. The Timberwolves then turned a double play on shortstop Maggie Kerrigan, but Schrader scored on the play to give the Lakers a 4-3 advantage.

Freshman Nellie Kosola led off the top of the seventh with a single to center, but was forced out at second base on a fielder's choice from third baseman Katie Martin. Two batters later, Martin was pushed home on a double to right center from Raisutis, which was her fourth hit of the day. GVSU entered the bottom of the frame with a 5-3 lead.

Northwood opened up its final at-bat with a leadoff double and an infield single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A double steal scored a run and put the tying run at second base. Marissa Borkowski then tripled off the fence in right field, driving in a run and tying the game at 5-5. Three batters later, with two runners on and two out, Ashley Slusser singled through the left side, driving in the winning run for the Timberwolves.

For the fifth straight game, Rohan was involved in the pitching decision, as she took the loss after giving up three runs in 0.2 innings, while allowing four hits. Rohan is now 4-6 on the year. Sophomore Andrea Nicholson started for the Lakers, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. She struck out four batters and did not issue a walk.

Raisutis put together a career-high four base hits in four at-bats, as she drove in two runs and scored twice. She extended her hitting streak to five straight games and is now third on the team with four homeruns. Freshman Kayleigh Bertram also had a multi-hit contest, as she was 2-for-3. Kronberg, Schrader, and Plummer each had a base hit for the Lakers.

While totaling nine hits in game one, GVSU was only able to connect for three base hits in the nightcap. Northwood tallied two runs in the second inning and a pair of runs in the fifth inning before notching another run in the seventh off of Laker starter Becky Gill.

The sophomore righthander was making the first start of her collegiate career, as all five of her pitching appearances have been in the past six days. She allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings, as her record falls to 0-1 on the year. Bertram, Kronberg, and senior Tina Briggs each tallied a base hit in game two.

GVSU heads on the road for two doubleheaders this weekend, the first of which coming on Saturday (April 24) at Wayne State. The Lakers will play a twinbill against the Warriors, starting at 1:00 p.m in Detroit.