March 5, 2012
Box Score
Auburndale, Fla. - The #5 Grand Valley State baseball team got caught in an offensive slugfest on Monday (Mar. 5), but came out on the losing end, 18-12, to #11 Seton Hill. Senior Zach Laupp and sophomore Giancarlo Brugnoni each went deep for the Lakers, GVSU's first home runs of the year.
The Griffins got on the board in t he first inning, leading off the game with a double to the left field gap and was doubled home after a sacrifice bunt, giving Seton Hill a 1-0 advantage.
The Lakers responded in the bottom of the first as freshman Mike Nadratowski laid down a perfect bunt for a single. After junior Chris Rudenga reached on a fielder's choice, senior Steve Anderson was hit by a pitch to put two on with two out. GVSU then put on a double steal and the Seton Hill catcher threw down to second base with nobody covering, allowing the ball to roll in to center field and Rudenga to come around to tie the game at one.
Seton Hill led off the second inning with their first of six home runs on the day. After a groundout and single, the Griffins deposited another long ball over the left field fence to make it a 4-1 game. Two batters later, the third homer of the inning left the field to make it a 5-1 game.
In the bottom of the second, the Lakers got their first long ball of the year as Laupp went deep over the left field fence to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Griffins got their big inning in the top of the third, pushing eight runs across the plate that included three two-RBI hits in the frame. They led 13-2 after three innings and 15-2 after the top of the fifth when they hit two more solo home runs.
Brugnoni came off the bench in the bottom of the fifth and crushed a two-run homer with Rudenga on second to cut the lead to 15-4. After Seton Hill put another run on the board in the top of the sixth, the Lakers started chipping away in the bottom of the frame with a Rudenga two-RBI single to make it a 15-6 game.
The Griffins again put two runs on the board in the top of the eighth via another homer, but the Lakers got their big inning in the bottom half.
Laupp and Nadratowski had walks sandwiched around a single by freshman Mitchell Kozlowski to load the bases with nobody out. Rudenga notched his fourth hit of the game with a single to left to score one and junior Stephen Claypool then walked to make it an 18-8 game. Anderson then drove in a run after beating out the double play turn to make it 18-9 and Brugnoni doubled down the left field line to bring another run in, cutting the lead to 18-10. Pinch-runner Jamie Potts later scored on a wild pitch and senior Derrik Strzalkwski brought Brugnoni in on a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 18-12.
That would be as close as the Lakers would come, however, as the Griffins would close out the 18-12 victory. Seton Hill hit six home runs on the day and there were eight long balls total in the contest. The 18 runs allowed by GVSU is the most since 2005 when the Lakers surrendered 25 runs to Central Missouri. That year, the Lakers advanced to the Division II College World Series.
Rudenga led the way on offense, matching a career-high with four hits, going 4-for-5 with three runs, three RBI and a walk. Brugnoni went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, three RBI and his first home run of the season. Laupp was 1-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored, two walks and his first home run, the first time he has actually went over the fence for a home run in his Laker career. On April 2nd, 2010 against Findlay, Laupp had an inside-the-park roundtripper. Kozlowski went 3-for-5 with a run scored.
Senior Ryan Garman (0-1) was saddled with the loss in 2.1 innings of work, striking out three. Senior Jacob Cox pitched a career-high 4.2 innings in relief, striking out three. Junior Brad Zambron pitched a perfect inning of relief, striking out two.
Seton Hill was led by Alex Hetrick on offense, who went 3-for-5 with three runs and six RBI including two home runs. Brad Schnelle (2-0) earned the win, working 5.2 innings and allowing six hits, six runs (five earned) and three walks while striking out four.
GVSU, now 3-2 on the year, will look to get back on track on Tuesday (Mar. 6) as the Lakers take on Notre Dame (Ohio) at 3 p.m. in Auburndale.
