June 2, 2005

Box Score

Montgomery, Ala. - #17 Grand Valley State scored early and often en route to an 11-7 victory over third-ranked Delta State Wednesday in an elimination game at the 2005 NCAA DII World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. GVSU (36-16) will now square off against North Florida in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m.

Grand Valley State senior second baseman Scott Smith got the Lakers rolling as he singled to center off Delta State starter Justin Smith on the first pitch of the game. Senior third baseman Scott Allen followed with a doubled to the left corner to advance S. Smith to third. Senior center fielder Brandon McFarland then singled to center to plate S. Smith and sophomore catcher Nick Smith drove in Allen with a grounder in the hole between first and second to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Delta State tied the game with a pair of runs on two hits and a Laker error in the bottom of the first. However, GVSU continued to score with four in the top of the second, with the big blow being a bases loaded double by S. Smith . DH Drew Wippich singled to open the inning and freshman left fielder Pat Radde and senior shortstop Ryan Lyster followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases prior to S. Smith's triple to left center. S. Smith then scored when N. Smith laid down a perfect down to third base that he beat out for a single with two outs. Grand Valley State increased its lead to 7-2 with a single run in the top of the third. First baseman Chad Rohacs singled and moved to second on a Wippich sac bunt. Radde then sent an 0-1 fastball deep to left center to score Rohacs.

"It was key to score some early runs and force them to play from behind," said GVSU head coach Steve Lyon. "Our confidence level rose early and were able to get some key hits with runners in scoring position," added Lyon.

DSU scored a pair of single runs in the both the bottom of the third and fourth, but GVSU broke the game open with a four-spot in the top of the fifth. Wippich and Radde opened the inning with singles and S. Smith singled to center to score Wippich and move Radde to third. Allen then sent shock waves through Riverwalk Stadium when he sent a Tyler Brewer fastball 385 feet away over the fence to put GVSU up 11-4.

"That was the hit that broke out backs," said Delta State head coach Mike Kennison. "I felt like we were still in position to score some runs, but out entire game plan changed when he hit that home run to put us down seven."

The game was delayed in the top of the sixth with two outs when a thunderstorm blew in and saturated the already wet field. The delay lasted for 1 hour and 48 minutes and gave Delta State life for a comeback. The Statesmen promptly scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and the Lakers' third error to pull within four (11-7). GVSU senior pitcher Sean McLeod replaced Laker starter Jeff Sinicki in the sixth and was able to get out of two jams with no runs scoring after Delta State put two runners on base with no outs. McLeod retired DSU in order in the bottom of the ninth for his first save of the year.

"I felt like we were in good shape going into the rain delay, but I also knew that Delta State would come out fighting when were resumed the game," said Lyon. "Sean (McLeod) did an outstanding job tonight, as our entire bullpen has done the entire tournament," added Lyon.

GVSU leadoff hitter Scott Smith was 5-5 with four RBIs, four runs scored and reached base six times. Scott Allen wasa 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Drew Wippich and Pat Radde each collected a pair of hits and scored two runs. Nick Smith drove in a pair of runs with one hit. GVSU scored 11 runs on 14 hits, while Delta State tallied seven runs on 11 hits. GVSU starter Jeff Sinicki improved to 8-1 on the year, yielding seven runs, five earned on nine hits in 5.1 innings. Sean McLeod yielded two hits and struck out three in 3.2 innings of work.

Grand Valley State improved to 6-4 in NCAA DII World Series action the last three years and the victory was also head coach Steve Lyon's 250th victory as the Laker head coach.