April 6, 2012
Game One Box Score (2-0 L)
Game Two Box Score (3-2 W) (8 inn.)
University Center, Mich. - The 21st-ranked Grand Valley State baseball team traveled to rival Saginaw Valley State for a doubleheader on Friday (Apr. 6), dropping game one by a 2-0 score but taking the nightcap by a 3-2 score in eight innings.
In game one, Laker ace Kyle Schepel (5-2) took the mound but was outdueled by Cardinal pitcher Mike Saunders (4-1), both throwing complete games and allowing only three hits. However, Saunders held the Lakers scoreless while Saginaw Valley was able to push two runs across, both in the bottom of the third.
The Cardinals began the third with a lead-off walk and advanced the runner on a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out to left field for out number two, Matt Hunt singled through the ride side to bring the run in, then stole second and came home on a single to center field to make it a 2-0 game.
The Lakers had a chance in the ensuing frame as senior Jared Cowan reached on an error by the short stop, then advanced to second on a single by sophomore Giancarlo Brugnoni. Freshman Kevin Zak hit a ground ball to the short stop, but the Cardinals threw behind Cowan at third and got him in a run down for the second out. A strike out ended the inning with runners on second and third.
GVSU wouldn't get a runner past second the rest of the game as Saunders completed the game allowing only three hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts. Schepel took the loss despite allowing only three hits with seven strikeouts of his own.
The Laker offense was led by senior Derrik Strzalkowski, who went 1-for-2. Brugnoni and Zak were the only other Lakers to register hits, each going 1-for-3.
For the Cardinals, Hunt finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Brandon Schwanz finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI.
In game two, the Lakers eclipsed their run total from the first game only a couple batters in to the game. Freshman Mike Nadratowski singled through the right side to begin the game and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Zak then singled down the left field line to bring Nadratowski in for an early 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the second, singling to begin the frame. After a hit by pitch put two runners on with nobody out, a ground ball to second base got only one out as the runner beat the throw at first. With runners on the corners and one out, a ground ball back to the pitcher appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but again the batter beat out the throw at first and the runner from third scored to tie the game at one.
In the top of the third, GVSU took the lead back. Senior Zach Laupp singled to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Nadratowski reached on an error by the second baseman, senior Blake Batteast attempted a squeeze play with runners on the corners but Laupp was retired at home. Zak got a run in anyway on the next at-bat, singling through the left side to bring in Nadratowski from second to take a 2-1 lead.
The Cardinals tied the game back up in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at two with a single run in the frame. GVSU had a chance to take the lead back in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but SVSU got out of the inning with a double play.
The game went to extra innings and after senior Steve Anderson hit a one out single down the left field line, Cowan doubled him in with a shot to center field, giving the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth. Junior Brad Zambron then came in, giving up a lead-off single but nailing down the win for his sixth save of the year.
Senior Ryan Garman (4-2) got the victory, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits, one earned run and two walks with five strikeouts.
The Laker offense was led by Zak, who finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI. Nadratowski and Anderson each went 2-for-4 as well, Nadratowski scoring twice and Anderson once with his ninth double of the season. Cowan had the only other RBI in the game, going 1-for-4 with an RBI and his seventh double of the year.
Drzewicki (0-1) took the loss for the Cardinals, tossing 2.1 innings on relief and allowing four hits with one run allowed. Schalk, the starter, went 5.1 innings and allowed six hits, two runs (one earned).
The split leaves the Lakers with a 16-10 record this year and a 6-6 mark in the GLIAC. sVSU is now 12-11 on the year with a 9-3 record in the conference.
The same two teams will do battle again on Saturday (Apr. 6) in a doubleheader slated to begin at noon in University Center, Mich.
