May 13, 2005

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - Grand Valley State (30-14) advanced to Saturday's GLIAC Tournament Championship game with a 6-4 victory over Findlay in a winner's bracket contest Friday at the WSU Baseball Field. Grand Valley State has won seven straight GLIAC Tournament games and are 8-1 in GLIAC Tournament action the last three years.

The second-seeded Lakers snapped a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the sixth. Scott Smith reached on an Oiler throwing error with one out and Scott Allen followed with an RBI double down the left field line. Allen advanced to third on a ground out and scored GVSU's second unearned run of the frame as Nick Smith reached on a UF fielding error.

Grand Valley increased its lead to 6-0 with a four spot in the eighth. Brandon McFarland reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on a two-out, two-run home run by Nick Sandy. Chad Rohacs and Drew Wippich both singled with Rohacs later scoring on a wild pitch. Wippich crossed the plate on a fielder's choice by Smith.

The Oilers broke through in the scoring column in the bottom of the eighth as Adam Bateson doubled to left center with one out. He moved to third and fielder's choice and scored on a Laker throwing error.

GVSU left two runners on in the top of the ninth, before Findlay mounted a comeback. Caleb Meyer doubled leading off the frame and after Richie Van Hoose reached on the Lakers' third error of the game, Cody Davis doubled in Meyer making it 6-2. Sean Vargo's RBI ground out scored Van Hoose, while Davis crossed the plate on a wild pitch cutting the Laker lead to two at 6-4. Joe Finnerty struck out the final two batters.

Grant Payton earned the victory for GVSU by allowing four hits and one unearned run in 7.1 innings. Payton improved to 8-3 overall by striking out six and lowered his league-leading ERA to 1.22 on the year. Findlay's Bret Bostelman saw his record fall to 5-5. He allowed four hits and two unearned runs in 6.2 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. Allen led GVSU with a three-for-five performance, while Smith and Rohacs each contributed two hits. Bateson was the lone Oiler with a multiple-hit contest.