May 17, 2013
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The 18th-ranked Grand Valley State baseball team got a plethora of clutch plays on Thursday (May 16), leading to a 6-5 victory over St. Joseph's (Ind.) in the first round of the 2013 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament at Meador Park.
The Lakers got a pair of three-run homers, one from sophomore Jesse Abel and one from junior Giancarlo Brugnoni, in the sixth and seventh innings to fuel GVSU to the come-from-behind victory.
The win keeps GVSU in the winner's bracket and sets up a game against #5 seed Lewis at 8 p.m. on Friday (May 17).
The Lakers, who entered the tournament as the #3 seed are now 32-16 on the year, while St. Joseph's, the #4 seed, falls to 30-19. GVSU was the only higher-seeded team to win on the first day of the regional tournament.
The Pumas put the first run on the board in the top of the third with a lead-off double, bunt single and RBI groundout to go up 1-0. They added another in the top of the fourth to go up 2-0.
St. Joseph's added some more breathing room in the top of the sixth as GVSU committed two errors and gave up two hits with a sacrifice fly. The Pumas led 4-0 going to the bottom of the sixth.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Lakers were able to break through and get on the board. Sophomore Jamie Potts singled in to left-center field and Brugnoni doubled down the left field line to put two in scoring position. Abel then came up and lifted a high fly ball to left field that just snuck over the fence and outstretched arm of the Puma outfielder for a three-run longball, his second of the season, to bring GVSU within one at 4-3.
St. Joseph's got one back in the top of the seventh as a runner came in on a swinging third strike that got away from the catcher, pushing the lead back out to 5-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, GVSU again responded against the GLVC Pitcher of the Year, getting a lead-off single from sophomore Kevin Zak and then a bunt from senior Chris Rudenga. The Pumas attempted to throw out Zak at second but the throw was off target, putting two on with nobody out. After a sacrifice bunt from Potts put both runners in scoring position, Brugnoni hit a breaking ball out to just near the scoreboard in left-center to put the Lakers up 6-5.
After a one-out single by the Pumas in the top of the eighth, senior Brad Zambron came in and got a pop-up and an incredible defensive play by junior Stuart Eisler to end the inning with the tying run on third. A high chopper was hit that bounced just behind the mound as Eisler charged. He caught the ball on a short-hop and threw to first on the run to just barely get the out and keep the Lakers up by one.
Zambron was clutch again in the top of the ninth, as a throwing error on the lead-off hitter put one on. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third and a single put runners on the corners with two out. Zambron coaxed an infield pop-up to end the game and cap the Laker comeback, 6-5.
The offense was led by Brugnoni, who finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI, including his 13th home run of the season. That longball gives Brugnoni 32 career home runs, tying him with Laker great Dustin Vugteveen for the GVSU career record.
Abel finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI, includhing his second homer of the season. Potts went 2-for-3 with a run, while Zak went 2-for-5 with a run scored.
Senior Anthony Campanella (8-4) battled, scattering 12 hits in 7.1 innings of work, allowing only two earned runs with seven strikeouts. Zambron earned his 12th save of the season with 1.2 innings of shutout relief, allowing only one hit.
GLVC Pitcher of the Year Jordan Peterson was tagged with the loss, only his second of the year (9-2), allowing 10 hits and five earned runs in seven innings of work.
Earlier in the day, top-seeded Ashland lost a 13-10 decision to #6 seed Bellarmine. E5 Lewis defeated host and #2 seed Drury, 11-8, in the final game of the day.
GVSU and Lewis will take the field for a scheduled start of 8 p.m. EDT on Friday at Meador Park. Live stats will be available by clicking here.
