March 9, 2005

Box Score

Pittsburg, Kan. - The Lakers scored early and often Wednesday (Mar. 9) in 9-4 and 7-1 wins against Northwest Missouri State in Pittsburg, Kan. Nate Weller picked up the win in the first game allowing one run and striking out four in five innings of relief work. Sean McLeod started the second game throwing six innings, allowing an unearned run, only four hits, and striking out a season-high nine batters. Ryan Lyster paced the Laker offense with three hits, four runs scored, and three RBI on the day. Grand Valley returns to action Thursday (Mar. 10) at 11:00 am CT against Northern State (S.D.) in Joplin, Mo. before heading to Warrensburg, Mo. for the Central Missouri Classic.

Grand Valley started out slow in game one as they faced a 3-0 deficit after two innings. The Lakers responded quickly tying the game at three in the top of the third as the Lakers sent eight batters to the plate. Clay Ackerman and Ryan Lyster led off the inning with back-to-back singles and eventually scored when Scott Allen hit a ball that was misplayed by the second baseman. Brandon McFarland knocked in the Lakers third run of the inning driving in Scott Smith on a sacrifice fly to right field. Grand Valley put two more runs on the board in the fourth and four more runs in the fifth. Nick Sandy led off the fourth with a double to deep center and scored on a Lyster groundout. Smith scored his second run of the game on a Scott Allen single to centerfield to cap off the scoring in the fourth. Nick Sandy knocked in two runs in the fifth with a single to center that was misplayed by the centerfielder and allowed Nick Smith and Chad Rohacs to score on the play. Scott Smith had an RBI triple to right field to score Ryan Lyster from first to give the Lakers a 9-3 lead. Nate Weller pitched five innings of relief for the Lakers and picked up the win allowing one run and striking out three.

The Lakers continued their hot hitting in the second game with Scott Smith leading off the game with a single and scored on the very next play when Lyster doubled to right center. The Bearcats scored their lone run of the game in the top of the third when John White scored from third on a double steal. The Lakers responded with two runs in the bottom of the third on a Clay Ackerman RBI double. Grand Valley crossed the plate three more times in the fourth thanks to a one run double by McFarland and a two run double by Nick Smith. Sean McLeod pitched six stellar innings allowing an unearned run, only four hits and struck out nine Bearcats. Matt Middleton pitched a hitless seventh to finish off the win for the Lakers.

The Lakers play one more game in Joplin, Mo. against Northern State (S.D.) before heading to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on Emporia State, Bemidji State, and Central Missouri State in the Central Missouri Classic on Friday (Mar. 11) and Saturday (Mar. 12).