May 12, 2007

Box Score

Grand Valley State continued its run through the loser's bracket of the NCAA DII Great Lakes Region Tournament, defeating Missouri-Rolla, 5-4 in 13 innings, on Saturday. GVSU had four home runs in the game, while the Miners posted two. The Lakers improve to 34-17 overall and will play Wayne State on Saturday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. ET. The Miners end their season with a 29-18 overall record.

The Lakers tallied their first three runs of the game on home runs. GVSU posted back-to-back home run in the first inning, as junior second baseman Kristin Moleski recorded her third home run in as many games. Junior designated player Elizabeth Smith followed Moleski with a home run of her own to left field. Junior center fielder Lisa Preuss led off the second inning with a home run to right center field, marking her second home run of the tournament.

GVSU added its fourth run of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore left fielder Karen Walters singled to the third baseman to start off the inning. She moved to third base one out later as sophomore short stop Nichole Woityra double to right center field. Moleski singled to the pitcher to score Walters and give the Lakers a 4-0 lead.

Andjelich dominated the first half of the game, allowing just one hit through five innings of play. However, Missouri-Rolla came back in the sixth inning and posted four runs on four hits. Krista Porterfield singled to left field to start off the inning and scored as Kandi Wieberg hit a two run shot to left field to cut the Laker lead to 4-2. Andjelich struck out Ashley Winter, but Kelsey Musselman singled to center field. Rachel Wilkinson struck out for the second out of the inning, but Emily Tucker hit the second two run home run of the inning to center field to tie the ball game at 4-4.

Neither team could put a runner on in the seventh inning, but the Lakers tallied two base runners in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Smith and senior first baseman Crista Buresh both recorded back-to-back walks, but GVSU could not push a run across the plate. The Lakers then had a runner on second base in the top of the ninth as sophomore third baseman Becky Rudenga doubled to right center with one out, but once again GVSU could not score the run.

Grand Valley tallied a hit in both the 10th and 11th innings, but couldn't capitalize. Andjelich continued to dominate on the mound, shutting down the Miners in the ninth and 10th innings. She gave up a single and a walk to put two runners on in the 11th, but got out of the jam by forcing Tucker to line out to Rudenga.

Both teams were retired in order in the 12th inning and then with two outs in the top of the 13th inning, Preuss posted her second home run of the game as she hit a shot to left field to win the game for the Lakers. Andjelich gave up one hit in the bottom of the 13th as Missouri-Rolla threatened, but got out of the inning as she caught a pop fly by Musselman.

Andjelich picked up the win, her 17th of the season, as she threw all 13 innings of play. She tied her career-high with 14 strikeouts and allowed seven hits and four earned runs. Jen O'Hara started the game for the Miners, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs, while striking out four. She had to come out in the fifth inning as she got hit by a line drive that came right back at her. Ashley Wallingford finished the game and suffered the loss. She pitched a solid 8.1 innings, giving up five hits and just one run, while striking out six.

Junior center fielder Lisa Preuss was 3-for-6 in the game with two RBI and two runs scored, including the game-winning home run in the top of the 13th inning. Junior second baseman Kristin Moleski went 2-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored, while junior catcher Katie Kring was 2-for-6. The Lakers tallied 12 hits and one error, while the Miners recorded seven hits. GVSU stranded eight runners on base and Missouri-Rolla left five.