May 9, 2003

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State dropped a tough 7-6 decision to Saginaw Valley State on Friday (May 9) in a winners bracket game at the 2003 GLIAC Tournament. GVSU 35-12-1 will play Ashland on Saturday (May 10) at noon, with the winner facing Saginaw Valley State at 3 p.m.

GVSU jumped on the board in the first inning as CF Mike McCallister singled, 1B Joe Brunink walked and 1B Kevin Boyd singled to load the bases. C Elijah Beckwith then drilled a Steve Corby pitch over the 365 mark in left center for a grand slam to give the Lakers a 4-0 lead. Saginaw Valley State came back in the bottom of the second and scored four runs on a two-run double and a home run to tie the game. GVSU scored a single run in the top of the fourth when Matt Wright singled, stole second and went to third on an error by the catcher. 2B Jeremy Lundberg hit a sac fly to right field to score Wright.

SVSU took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when DH Dan Jones hit a two-run HR after a close call on a third strike gave him new life. GVSU tied the game (6-6) in the top of the sixth when RF Joe Mertes hit a solo HR to right field. Saginaw Valley State scored the winning run on a pair close call walks in the the bottom of the seventh.

Phil Mixter (9-3) took the loss, striking out 10 in 6.1 innings or work. Nick Bultema threw 1.2 innings in relief. Beckwith was 1-4 with four RBI, while McCallister collected a pair of hits. Mertes was 1-3 with an RBI and Lundberg was 1-3 with an RBI.