March 6, 2008

Box Score

Joplin, MO. - Grand Valley State scored three runs in the top of the seventh and three in the top of the ninth to claim a 9-8 comeback win over Missouri Southern State on Wednesday in Joplin, Missouri. GVSU and MSSU will square off Thursday at 3 p.m.

The Lakers started with a single run in the top of the first on two hits. SS Dan Anstedt reached on a fielder's choice and moved to second on a walk to RF Derek Hinke. 1B Casey Robrahn singled through the right side of the infield to plate Anstedt and give GVSU a 1-0 lead. GVSU took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Hinke singled, stole second and scored on another Robrahn single. Missouri Southern State scored three runs in the bottom of the third on three hits and a Laker error. The Lions then added five run in the bottom of the fourth on three more hits and two Laker errors to take a 8-3 lead.

Grand Valley State started its comeback with a single run in the top of the fifth. Radde singled to left, stole second and came home on a single down the right field line by Hinke. GVSU pulled closer (8-6) with three runs on three hits, all with two outs. Robrahn walked and went second on a fieldder's choice by Bobby Walmsley. Both advanced on a wild pitch an 3B Brad Raj singled in Robrahn with a single. Raj stole second and SS Justin Beal walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Cory Maguire then came through with a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle.

GVSU opened the top of the ninth with a groundout, followed by back-to-back singles from Raj and Beal. A flyout left the Lakers down two with two outs. Pinch hitter Jay Tharett came through with a single to right to score Raj and advance Beal to third. Matt Nickels ran for Tharett and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Senior CF Pat Radde then delivered a single up the middle to score Beal and Nickels to give GVSU a 9-8 lead.

It took three Laker pitchers to get the final three outs for the win.

Radde was 3-6 with two RBI and a run scored, while Hinke was 3-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Robrahn drove in two runs on a 2-4 outing, Raj collected two hits and scored two runs, while Beal notched three hits. David Bowman picked up the win with a scoreless eighth and Andre Benjamin earned the save by getting the final out with a runner on second.