 |
 |
 |
May 13, 2007
Grand Valley State's run in the Great Lakes Region Tournament came to an end Sunday afternoon as the Lakers dropped a 10-1 decision in five innings to Southern Illinois Edwardsville in the championship game. GVSU ends its season with a 36-18 record, while SIUE improves to 45-8 and will advance to the NCAA DII Softball National Championships in Akron, Ohio next week.
Left fielder Jodie Ohlau got hit by a Stephanie Cole pitch to start off the game for the Cougars. One out later, Ohlau stole second base and right fielder Ashley Price reached first base on a walk to put two runners on for SIUE. A double steal moved the runners to second and third and another walk to catcher Libby Lenart loaded the bases with just one out. Short stop Kaeleigh Rousey doubled to left field to bring in two runs and a base hit by designated player Mallory Ruggles brought in two more runs. Second baseman Nicole Beecher had a single to right field to bring in the fifth run of the inning. Cole was relieved by sophomore Lori Andjelich who came in and gave up a single to first baseman Emily Lenart to put runners on first and second base. Lori was able to get the second out of the inning as she struck out third baseman Lauren Zembruski. The Cougars put on the double steal again to move the runners to second and third base with two outs. A base hit by Ohlau scored another run, but center fielder Lisa Preuss gunned out the second runner at home plate to end the inning.
Junior right field Sarah Holland started off the bottom of the first inning with an infield single, but then got out at second base as sophomore short stop Nichole Woityra reached first base on a fielder's choice. Another fielder's choice got Woityra out at second base as junior second baseman Kristin Moleski reached first base safely. Junior designated player Elizabeth Smith walked to give the Lakers runners at first and second base, but senior first baseman Crista Buresh struck out to strand the runners.
|
|
 |
Center fielder Courtney Mall tallied a lead off triple to right field in the second inning, but Andjelich was able to strike out Price as she watched the third strike go by. Libby Lenart got out on a squeeze play bunt, scoring Mall from third base. Rousey singled to right center field and stole second base, but Ruggles popped up to Moleski for the final out of the inning. The Lakers were then retired in order in their half of the second inning.
Beecher singled to left field to start off the third inning for the Cougars. She moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Emily Lenart, but the Lakers were able to get out the next two batters to end the inning. GVSU couldn't get a hit though in the third as they were retired in ordered for the second straight inning.
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Libby Lenart recorded a deep infield single to reach first base safely. Andjelich was able to strike out Rousey to strand the runner at first base.
After a long fly ball to right center field by Moleski in the bottom of the fourth inning, Smith hit her 10th home run of the season. The shot over the left field wall cut the Cougar lead to 7-1. Buresh then posted a double to right center field and moved to third base on a ground out by Preuss. The runner was stranded at third base as pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo struck out catcher Katie Kring.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, Beecher drew a walk and pinch runner Katy Biggs was thrown out as she tried to steal second base. A two out infield base hit by Emily Lenart and a base hit to left field by Zembruski put runners on first and second base. Ohlau hit a three run shot over the left field wall to put the Cougars up 10-1.
Freshman pinch hitter Stephanee Schrader struck out for the first out of the fifth inning and freshman left fielder Rebecca Plummer hit the first pitch back to the pitcher for the second out. Holland struck out for the final out of the game.
Junior Stephanie Cole (17-8) suffered the loss as she pitched just 0.1 of an inning. She allowed three hits, two walks, and six earned runs. Sophomore Lori Andjelich finished the final 4.2 innings of play, giving up nine hits and four earned runs, while striking out four batters.
The Lakers tallied just three hits to the Cougars 12 in the game. Junior designated player Elizabeth Smith was 1-for-1 with a home run, walk, RBI, and a run scored. Junior right fielder Sarah Holland was 1-for-3 and senior first baseman Crista Buresh had the other Laker hit.
Sophomore pitcher Lori Andjelich, junior second baseman Kristin Moleski, junior center fielder Lisa Preuss, junior designated player Elizabeth Smith, and junior right fielder Sarah Holland were all named to the 2007 Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team.
