May 21, 2011

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Normal, Ill. - | Post Game Interview

Top-ranked Grand Valley State (51-3) moved into the 2010 NCAA DII Midwest Regional title game Saturday afternoon with a 9-0 victory over Northern Kentucky. The Lakers are appearing in the Midwest Regional title game for the eighth time in the last nine years. The title game will be played Sunday (May 22) at 12 noon versus an opponent to be determined at the Corn Crib in Normal, Ill.

The Lakers opened the scoring in the top of the second as LF Steve Anderson doubled to open the inning and moved to third on a single to center off the bat of 1B Giancarlo Brugnoni. Trepel reached on a fielders choice and moved to second as Anderson got in a run down between third and home. During the rundown Brugnoni moved to third and Trepel to second. DH Torre Aguirre came through with a two-run single to left center that plated Brugnoni and Trepel a to give the Lakers an early 2-0 lead.

GVSU added two more runs in the top of the fifth on two hits. 3B Dan Ponegalek singled to right and moved to second an a sacrafice bunt from C Zach Laupp. 2B Cory Phillips then delivered his third home run in as many gamses at the Corn Crib, this one being a two-run shot cleared the left field fence to up the Laker lead to 4-0.

"It was nice to get on the board early and give Joe (Jablonski) the early lead," said 13th-year head coach Steve Lyon."

Anderson opened the sixth inning with a single to left, followed by back-to-back walks to Brugnoni and Trepel to load the bases. Aguirre then drove in two with a ground rule double to left and Phillips drove in the third run of the inning with a sac fly to center to center that scored Trepel and up the GVSU lead to 7-0.

Pinch hitter Chris Rudenga reached on a throwing error by the shortstop to open the ninth and moved to third on a wild pitch. Brugnoni singled in singled to center to score Rudenga, followed by a Trepel single that moved Brugnoni to second. Aguirre then singled to center to score Brugnoni to up the GVSU lead to 9-0.

Jablonski, a senior from Temperence, Mich., who improved to 7-1 on the year with the win, tossed a gem of a game. He limited NKU to just four hits with four strikeouts and he did not walk a batter. The Norse did not have a runner reach second base and Jablonski faced just 28 batters, one over the minimum.

"I can't say enough about the pitching of Joe Jablonski today," said Lyon. "He was able to work ahead of every hitter and he threw his off speed pitches for strikes. You expect your seniors to step up in these situations and it was very satisfying to see Joe give that type of performance today," added Lyon.

Jablonski upped his all-time record to 26-7 and moved within one inning of the all-time record held by former Laker great Mark Dewey (260.2). In addition, the complete game shutout was the first of the season for Jablonski.

Aguirre had a record-setting day with five RBIs during his 3-for-5 outing. Anderson was 4-for-5, while Phillips drove in three runs while with a 2-for-4 outing. Brugnoni was 2-for-3 and scored three runs, while Trepel and Dan Ponegalek each collected a hit.

"I really liked our approach at the plate and thought we did a good job of working the at bats to our advantage," said Lyon. "Torre (Aguirre) came through with a guys on base and what can you say about the homecoming for Cory Phillips."

Grand Valley State is 26-9 in NCAA DII Midwest Regional action since 2003, with four regional crowns.