Grand Valley State split a Sunday DH at Wayne State, scoring five runs in the top of the seventh to record a 7-4 comeback win over #19 Wayne State in the first game, but dropping a 9-8 decision in game two. GVSU is 8-11 overall and 1-3 in GLIAC action, while Wayne State is 18-4 overall and 3-1 in GLIAC action.
Game 1
Wayne State took an early 1-0 lead over the Lakers with a run in the bottom of the first, however, GVSU pushed two runs across in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. 1B
Nate Chase opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch and CF
Drake Ellens used a SAC bunt to move him to second. RF
Jacob Gleason singled to right to score Chase, followed by a double to left off the bat of C
Ryan Lorber that scored Gleason.
Trailing for the first time in three games, Wayne State needed just three batters to take a 4-2 lead. A hit batter, 2-run HR and solo shot to center upped the Wayne State lead to 4-2. Junior
Luke Hargis came in with two on base and got two quick outs to keep GVSU within striking distance. Hargis, who picked up the win (1-0) allowed just three hits in 4.2 innings with three strikeouts..
The Grand Valley State offense got on track in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs on six hits to give the Lakes a 7-4 lead. 2B
Alex Mandeville opened the inning with a single to right, followed by a double to center off the bat of LF
Chase Carpenter. SS
Parker Murdie delivered a one-out double to tie the game (4-4) and DH
Ryan Blake-Jones picked up the game-winning RBI with a single to right. Chase doubled to get Blake-Jones to third and Ellens hit a sac fly to left to plate Blake-Jones, followed by an RBI single to left from RF
Jacob Gleason to score Chase. Wayne State was able get the first two batters on base with a HBP and an error in the bottom of the seventh, but
Brendan Nearing closed the door on a pair of flyouts and a strikeout to secure the team win and pick up the save.
Murdie was 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Gleason drove in a pair on two hits and Carpenter also tallied two hits.
Alex Licata got the start, but Hargis picked up the win, yielding three hits and striking out three in 4.2 innings of work.
Brendan Nearing picked up the save with a scoreless seventh and one strikeout.
Game 2
The Lakers started game two like they finished game one, putting up five runs in the top half of a frame (T1) on two hits. Carpenter walked and 3B
Anthony Cocco singled, followed by a sac bunt off the bat of Murdie. Blake-Jones walked Chase walked to score Carpenter. Gleason reached on a fielder's choice to score Cocco and Blake-Jones scored on a balk to give GVSU a 3-0 lead. Ellens then delivered a 2-run HR to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead. Wayne State scored one in the bottom of the first, three in the bottom of the third and then four in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-5 lead after four innings of play.
Murdie walked to open the fifth, followed by a Blake-Jones single and Gleason launched a one-out, 3-run HR to left center to tie the game at 8-8. WSU picked up the game-winning run on a solo shot to right field and the Lakers were unable to get the equalizer in the eighth or ninth innings.
Gleason tallied four RBI and Ellens a pair for the Laker offense. Cocco and
Ryan Lorber each collected a pair of hits.
Michael Morelli got the start, but was not involved in the decision. Freshman
Rylan Peets was effective in his 3.2 innings of relief, one run on two hits, but he was tagged with the loss.
