May 16, 2010
Box Score
Evansville, Ind. - #20 Grand Valley State University was making their seventh regional title game appearance in nine years today, facing top-seed and host school Southern Indiana, ranked 11th in the country, for the right to advance to the Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C. With the Lakers being the only undefeated team left in the tournament, they needed to be defeated twice, and USI took game one 7-3, forcing game two later this afternoon.
Sophomore outfielder Cody Grice put his name in the record books to lead off the game, hitting a sharp line drive off USI starting pitcher Trevor Leach that got him safely to first, marking the 98th hit of the season for Grice. The hit made Grice the GLIAC single-season record holder for hits, passing Ashland's Justin Randall's 97 hits in 2006. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but the Lakers were unable to drive him in.
Southern Indiana got the scoring going in the bottom of the second, as they got two two-out RBI singles to take a 2-0 lead. The Lakers answered in the top of the fourth inning, as two straight two-out singles put runners at first and third for Grand Valley State, and Jared Cowan shot a single through the left side to score Steve Anderson from third to make it 2-1. Dan Ponegalek then drew a walk to load the bases, but the Lakers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, as the Screaming Eagles got out of trouble with a 2-1 lead after the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth, Grand Valley State got two quick outs, but Southern Indiana put together a rally to load the bases, and Wandy Rosario then stole home on a close play to give the Screaming Eagles a 3-1 lead.
The Lakers responded in the top of the sixth with an Anderson double and then a Torre Aguirre RBI single to cut the lead to 3-2. Two straight flyouts and one groundout again got USI out of the inning with the lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, GVSU again got two quick outs before USI put together a rally, as three straight singles brought one run in to push the lead to 4-2, and a walk loaded the bases. Dan Holcomb then came in for the Lakers to pitch, and got the final out without further damage.
Southern Indiana tacked on insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as a bunt by Rosario with two men on led to a throwing error, as two runs scored and Rosario ended up at third. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to make it a 7-2 lead for the Screaming Eagles.
The Lakers didn't go easily, as a Grice walk and Paul Young pinch-hit single put two on with one out. After a flyout to left field, Cory Maguire singled to left field to bring Grice in to make it a 7-3 game, but USI closed it down after that, forcing game two of the day.
Cory Rademacher (5-2) took the loss, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing six hits, four runs (two earned), and five walks while striking out four. Aguirre continued his tear, going 3-for-4 with one RBI, while Cowan had one RBI. Anderson was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and Grice was 2-for-4.
The Lakers (37-15) and Screaming Eagles (47-13) will meet again later this afternoon, at approximately 4:40 p.m. ET.
