May 1, 2010
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Allendale, Mich. - #11 Grand Valley State split a GLIAC doubleheader today against Wayne State, taking game one 5-0 before dropping a 14-11 shootout in game two. Junior Joe Jablonski threw a gem in game one, going the distance and allowing only four hits and two walks while striking out five for the complete game shutout. The Wayne State victory in game two gave the Warriors the regular-season GLIAC Championship.
Wayne State threatened early in game one, getting a runner to third, but a strikeout and flyout ended the top of the first in what would be the Warriors' best chance to score in the game.
The Lakers got a big fifth inning, as Andrew Trepel led off the frame with a bunt single that rolled to a stop on the third base line. After being moved over on a sacrifice bunt, Steve Anderson singled in the run to give GVSU a 1-0 lead. After a Zach Laupp walk, Chris Rudenga singled up the middle to score another, making it 2-0, and Cody Grice followed with a triple down the right field line that scored two, making it a 4-0 game. Brian Robinson followed with a single through the left-side to score Grice, as the 5-0 cushion would be enough for the victory.
Jablonski allowed only two hits and one walk in the final six innings to get the victory, moving to 7-1 on the season with a 2.66 ERA.
Grice was 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI, while Robinson, Anderson, and Rudenga all had one hit and one RBI each.
Game two was a shootout for both sides, as Wayne State started off the game with three runs in the top of the first and two in the second to go up 5-0 before the Lakers responded in the bottom of the second with four of their own. A Rudenga two-RBI double led the way, as Kyle Gendron and Cory Maguire each had RBI singles in the inning as well, cutting the lead to 5-4.
Wayne State again put Grand Valley State in the hole by answering with four runs in the top of the third to push the lead out to 9-4. Again, the Lakers responded with four of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning, powered by a pair of two-run homeruns, one by Grice and one by Gendron to make it 9-8.
After the Warriors put up one in the top of the fifth to go up 10-8, Grand Valley State finally took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Gendron triple to center field, making it an 11-10 game.
Wayne State made their final push in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs to go up 14-11, and the Lakers put the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh before the Warriors closed the game out to take the victory and the regular-season GLIAC title.
Gendron led the way in game two, going 3-for-4 with one run and six RBI thanks to a two-run homer and three-run triple. Grice was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI, while Rudenga was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the game. Dan Holcomb took the loss in relief, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing two hits, four runs (two earned), and one walk while striking out two.
The split puts Grand Valley State at 32-12 on the year, 22-9 in the GLIAC. Wayne State moved to 29-17 overall with a 23-7 mark in the conference, and has clinched the regular season conference championship. The teams will finish their series with a nine-inning game on Sunday (May 2) at noon that will carry regional implications.
