May. 1, 2005

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State used two strong pitching performances and timely hitting to sweep a GLIAC doubleheader from Wayne State.  The Lakers took game one, 4-0 behind six innings of shutout ball from Junior Jeremy Dow.  Grand Valley won game two by a 6-4 margin, Senior Scott Allen paced the offense going 3-4 with two RBI.  Senior Joe Finnerty picked up saves in each game.  The Lakers return to action Wednesday, May 4 in a GLIAC home doubleheader against Northwood beginning at 1 PM.

Game one began as a pitcher's duel between Grand Valley's Jeremy Dow and Wayne State's Kyle Hill, until the Lakers opened up the scoring in the sixth inning.  Grand Valley tallied three singles in the third inning to get on the board and take a 1-0 lead over the Warriors.  Pat Radde singled to left center and advanced to second on a Lee VanStreain sacrifice bunt.  Scott Smith singled up the middle and was followed by a Scott Allen RBI single to LF.  Jeremy Dow recorded the win throwing six innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits and striking out six.  Grand Valley added three insurance runs in the sixth, thanks to a Brandon McFarland two-run homer to right center and an RBI single by Chad Rohacs.  Scott Allen led off the inning with a single to RF and McFarland followed with his fourth HR of the season.  Dow pitched into the seventh but was relieved by Senior Joe Finnerty who closed the door on the Warrior rally to earn his third save of the year.

Grand Valley jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after the first inning of game two on a Nick Smith RBI single that allowed McFarland to score all the way from first base.  Smith hit a ball to left that was misplayed by the LF, McFarland never slowed as he rounded third and beat the throw to home to score the game's first run.  Wayne State notched a run of its own in the third on a Matt Cunningham solo homer to LF.  Grand Valley responded with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning on three consecutive singles.  Nick Smith's single drove in Allen and McFarland to increase the Laker lead to 3-0.  Allen followed the next inning with his third single of the game driving in Clay Ackerman and Pat Radde.  Chad Rohacs finished the Laker scoring, by taking a pitch to LF and hitting his third homer of the year.  Wayne State was able to put three runs across the board to cut the lead to two (6-4), but it was not enough as Joe Finnerty came in to pick up his second save of the day.  Senior Marty Jackimowicz picked up the win pitching 4.1 innings allowing three runs (two earned), only one hit, and six K's. 

Scott Allen finished the day 5-7 with two runs scored and three RBI.  Pat Radde added three hits and two runs for the Lakers.  Grand Valley returns to action Wednesday, May 4 for a home GLIAC doubleheader against Northwood beginning at 1 PM.