April 10, 2011
Game One Box Score (5-3 W)
Game Two Box Score (8-7 W)
Allendale, Mich. - 3rd-ranked Grand Valley State used some clutch late-inning pitching to sweep Saginaw Valley State in a GLIAC doubleheader on Sunday (Apr. 10), 5-3 in the opener and 8-7 in the nightcap to move to 23-3 on the year with a 12-1 record in GLIAC play. Senior Paul Young hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season and sophomore pitcher Brad Zambron got the save in both games, pitching a combined 2.2 innings and striking out three to preserve the victories.
In game one, it was Saginaw Valley capitalizing early on Laker errors. After a fly-out to lead off the game, a fielding error put a man on and a throwing error while trying to turn a double play put a runner at second with two out. A double by Kyle O'Boyle into the right field gap brought the run in, putting the Cardinals up 1-0 after the top of the first.
The Lakers answered in the bottom half of the frame, as junior Garrett Yatch singled to lead off the frame but was retired on a fielder's choice on a Young ground ball. Junior Cody Grice was then hit by a pitch and junior Derrik Strzalkowski drew a walk to load the bases. Senior Torre Aguirre was then hit by a pitch to bring the first run in and a single by junior Brian Robinson put the Lakers ahead 2-1. A double play would then end the inning with GVSU up one.
The Cardinals took the lead back with two runs in the top of the second. A single and hit by pitch put the first two hitters on, and a passed ball put runners at the corners with nobody out. A sacrifice fly to right field brought the tying run while an RBI single up the middle by Matt Hunt put the Cardinals up 3-2.
GVSU yet again would answer back in the bottom of the frame. A one-out hit by pitch on junior Zach Laupp put a runner on, and he went to second when an errant pickoff attempt went into foul territory. A ground out moved Laupp to third, and Young hit his two-run homer down the right field line to put the Lakers up 4-3. Grice was then hit by another pitch and warnings were given to both benches as it was the fifth hit batter in under two innings. A single by freshman Giancarlo Brugnoni put Grice at third and Brugnoni at second as he advanced on the throw to third, but a ground ball ended the inning with the Lakers up one.
Laupp pushed another run across for the Lakers in the bottom of the third, hitting an RBI triple into the right field gap to plate senior Andrew Trepel, who had hit a two-out single on a bloop into center field.
Junior Ryan Garman then buckled down and the scoring ceased, allowing Garman to earn his fourth victory of the year in his first start since throwing a no-hitter against Ashland on April 3rd. Garman moved to 4-1 on the year after going six innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. Zambron got the save with a perfect inning of work and one strikeout.
Offensively, Young was 1-for-4 with two runs and two RBI, including his fourth home run of the season. Yatch, Robinson and Trepel were all 1-for-3 while Brugnoni and Laupp each went 1-for-2 in the win.
Game two began under the hottest temperatures the Lakers have seen since their Florida spring break trip, with first pitching coming under a cloudless sky and in 77-degree weather. GVSU got things started early under the clear skies, shutting down the Cardinals in the top of the first before the bats got to work in the bottom half of the frame.
Yatch singled to lead off the inning and a Young walk put two runners on. Grice then singled through the left side to bring Yatch in, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead. Junior outfielder Steve Anderson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out and a one-out single by Brugnoni brought two runs in to make it a 3-0 game. Anderson came in after Cowan grounded to short with the infield in and the throw to home was dropped by the catcher. An RBI single by senior Dan Ponegalek then scored Brugnoni to make it 5-0 and the Lakers ran off the starting pitcher after only one out.
SVSU answered back in a big way with their own five-spot in the top of the second inning. A hit by pitch and two straight walks loaded the bases with nobody out and another hit by pitch brought a run in without the Cardinals having to swing the bat, cutting the lead to 5-1. Kyle Parks then doubled into the left field gap to score two, making it a 5-3 game before starting pitcher Christopher Whitney had to be pulled. A ground ball out scored another run to make it 5-4, and an RBI single back up the middle tied the game at five. Finally, the Lakers got two more outs to end the inning in a tie at five.
The Lakers went back on top in the bottom of the third inning as Aguirre and Brugnoni both singled to lead off the inning. A fielder's choice put runners at the corners with one out, setting up Trepel for an RBI single on a ground ball back up the middle to make it a 6-5 game. After Trepel stole second and Yatch walked to load the bases, Young drew a walk of his own to bring Ponegalek in to make the score 7-5. Grice then gave a ride to a pitch out to left field, but with the wind blowing in slightly from that side of the field, the ball was knocked down in the air for a fly-out right in front of the warning track with the bases loaded.
The Cardinals again had an answer in the next half-inning, getting two one-out singles before O'Boyle drilled a two-RBI double out to the wall in center field to tie the game at seven. Junior Cory Rademacher then came into the game and nailed down the final two outs of the inning to keep the game tied.
GVSU proved to get the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth, as Trepel led off with a single before yatch sacrificed him to second. A ground ball out by Young moved Trepel to third and a wild pitch by Cardinal pitcher Justin Drzewicki scored Trepel to make it an 8-7 game.
After a single to lead off the top of the sixth for the Cardinals and a fly-out to deep center field, Zambron came in for his second appearance of the day and retired the last two batters on swinging strikeouts in the sixth inning. He came back out in the seventh, retiring the first two batters before giving up a single down the right field line to pinch-hitter Eric Burt. However, Burt tried to stretch the hit to a double, but was thrown out by a one-hopper from Young to Trepel at second base for the final out of the game.
Rademacher got the win in relief for the Lakers to move to 2-0 on the year. He pitched two innings, allowing two hits and no runs. Zambron picked up his fifth save with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit while striking out two.
Trepel went 2-for-2 with one run and one RBI in the game while Grice and Brugnoni each went 2-for-4 with a run scored, Grice also picking up one RBI and Brugnoni with two RBI. Ponegalek and Young each had one RBI in the victory as well.
The Lakers will be back on the field on Tuesday (Apr. 12) for a doubleheader at Hillsdale. Game one is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
