June 1, 2005

Montgomery, Ala. - The long day of rain that caused the Lakers to sit and wait to play baseball ended at 10:50 eastern time and in the bottom of the 10th when pinch hitter Drew Wippich singled in Brandon McFarland, with one out and the bases loaded to give GVSU's a 3-2 win over Southern Connecticut State. GVSU advances to play Delta State Wednesday at 3:30 ET.

McFarland doubled off the leftfield wall to open the 10th and sophomore catcher Nick Smith moved him to third with a perfect sac bunt that he almost beat out. Rightfielder Nick Sandy was intentionally walked and first baseman Chad Rohacs was unintentionally walked to load the bases. The left-handed hitting Wippich, who was not in the starting lineup due to SCSU starting a left-handed pitcher, worked a 3-0 count before taking a strike and fouling two pitches off to the screen behind home plate. The junior from Grosse Ile sent the next pitch back up the middle, just out of the reach of the Owls pitcher, to score McFarland and advance the Lakers to a rematch of the 2004 National Championship game versus Delta State.

"I was nervous when I first went up to bat, but I felt pretty good when the count went 3-0," said Wippich. "He battled back and I was able to foul a good 3-2 pitch off and then I just sent one back up the middle to score Brandon."

Grand Valley State opened the game like gangbusters in the bottom of the first. Senior second baseman Scott Smith walked and advanced to second on a sac bunt by third baseman Scott Allen. Smith advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored two pitches later on another wild pitch. McFarland walked and stole second before rightfielder Nick Sandy singled to right to score McFarland and give the Lakers an early 2-0 lead. However, that would be all the Lakers could get across the plate until the 10th. GVSU starter Jeremy Dow was stellar for the first four innings, but Southern Connecticut State pushed two runs across in the fifth on three hits to tie the game. The Owls loaded the bases in sixth off Laker reliever Nathan McCory, but McCrory coaxed a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the inning. Neither team mounted much of a scoring threat until GVSU loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, however, freshman leftfielder flew out to left.

"We're pleased to get the win and have another chance to play Wednesday," said GVSU head coach Steve Lyon. "I thought both teams played well despite the elements," added Lyon.

Grand Valley State (35-16) will play the third-ranked Statesmen in an elimination game Wednesday. GVSU is 5-4 NCAA DII World Series action the last three years.