Feb. 29, 2004

Box Score

Joplin, MO - Grand Valley State pounded out 11 hits and scored eight runs with wooden bats en route to an 8-3 season-opening victory over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Saturday in Joplin, Missouri.

Phil Mixter pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to Sean McCloud (1-0). McLoud pitched 2 2/3 while picking up his first win of the season. The game was scoreless until GVSU plated three in the top of the seventh. GVSU added two more in the eighth and three in the top of the ninth to build an 8-0 lead. SIUE scored three in the bottom of the ninth.

DH Matt Wright drove in three runs on two hits, while RF Joe Mertes knocked in two runs on three hits. LF Scott Allen tallied a two-out single that drove in two runs in the seventh. Brandon McFarland and Elijah Beckwith each tallied a pair of hits.

Grand Valley State will play SIUE Sunday at 12 noon.