Feb. 27, 2012
Box Score
Louisville, Ky. - Third-ranked Grand Valley State worked through an offensive struggle in the nightcap of Monday's (Feb. 27) doubleheader, earning a 2-1 victory over Bellarmine to begin the season 2-0. Senior Cory Baker (1-0) earned the win in relief, surrendering only one hit in five innings on the mound while striking out seven.
GVSU had runners at second in each of the first two innings but were unable to get them past that point on the bases. Finally, in the third inning, two straight walks from freshman Mike Nadratowski and junior Stephen Claypool put the Lakers in business. After a balk from the Bellarmine pitcher moved the runners to second and third, sophomore Giancarlo Brugnoni hit a one-out sacrifice fly to right field to score Nadratowski for the first run of the game.
The Knights responded in the fourth, singling to lead off the inning and then drawing a walk. A fly ball moved the runner to third, putting men on the corners. An RBI single through the right side then tied the game at one, but senior Ryan Garman struck out the next two hitters to keep the game tied at one.
Baker, making his Laker debut, came to the mound in relief in the fifth and made his presence known quickly, striking out the side. GVSU seemed to respond to that in the top of the sixth as junior Chris Ripple led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch and was moved to second on a one-out single through the right side of the infield by senior Jared Cowan. After a wild pitch moved both runners up, senior Blake Battest pinch-ran for Ripple and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by redshirt freshman Kevin Zak to give the Lakers a 2-1 advantage.
Baker retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth and then surrendered a single to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but got the next three batters out to keep the lead in tact.
It appeared the Lakers would add on an insurance run in the top of the eighth as Brugnoni singled to lead off the frame. Senior Brett Gwaltney, normally a pitcher, pinch ran for Brugnoni and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. During the next at-bat, Gwaltney stole third and then attempted to come home when the throw from the catcher went into left field. The left fielder made a great throw home, however, and nabbed Gwaltney at the plate.
Baker continued his dominance in the bottom of the eighth, striking out the first two batters of the frame before issuing a walk. He rebounded and struck out the last hitter to preserve the lead yet again.
Cowan led the ninth off with a walk and moved to second on a one-out single by freshman Mitchell Kozlowski. After Claypool walked to load the bases with two out, a fly ball to left field ended the Lakers' shot at insurance runs going to the bottom of the ninth.
The first two Knights in the bottom of the ninth were retired quickly and after a walk was issued, the final hitter grounded out to second base to end the game.
Garman, the starter in the game, went four innings, surrendering two hits and two walks while striking out four. Baker earned the win in relief, working five innings and allowing only one hit and two walks while striking otu seven.
Cowan and Kozlowski each went 1-for-3 in the game while Nadratowski worked two walks and scored a run. Junior Stephen Claypool coaxed three walks while Zak drew two walks, stole two bases and had an RBI. Brugnoni was 1-for-2 with an RBI. As a team, GVSU drew eight walks in the game.
The Lakers, now 2-0 on the year, will finish up the series with Bellarmine on Tuesday (Feb. 28) at 2 p.m. for a nine-inning game at Knights Field in Louisville, Ky.
