April 29, 2006

ALLENDALE, Mich. - David Lough extended his hitting streak to 17 games, but it was not enough as Mercyhurst (32-13, 17-7 GLIAC) had its 15 game win streak halted by No. 7 Grand Valley State (36-8, 20-3 GLIAC) by scores of 8-2 in the opener and 6-0 in the nightcap.

Game One
David Lough's hitting streak reached 16 games with a two-out single in the first, but Grand Valley got four runs in the third off Mercyhurst starter Brandon Mendola en route to a 8-2 GVSU win in game one.

Grand Valley took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a sac fly by Spud McKenzie that scored Lee Van Streain.

McKenzie had another sacrifice in the third to plate the first of GVSU's four runs in the inning. Nick Sandy Casey Robrahn and Brandon Bard followed with consecutive run scoring singles.

In the fifth, Grand Valley's Jeremy Dow hit Josh Schmidt and Brian Zacour to lead off the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Dan Bertolini moved the runners up, Matt Echan drove in Schmidt with an RBI ground out to cut it to 5-1.

Grand Valley scored three more off reliever Brian Chad in the bottom of the sixth. McKenzie, who finished 2-for with four runs batted in, stroked a two-run single in the inning.

Bertolini had an RBI single in the top of the seventh for Mercyhurst.

Mendola dropped to 5-3, going four innings and allowing five runs, four earned. He struck out one and allowed six hits and two walks.

Echan, Lough, Walter Wieczorek, Zacour and Bertolini each had one of the 'Hurst's five hits.

Dow remained undefeated and improved to 10-0. He fanned six in 6.2 innings. Robrahn and Bard each went 2-for-3.

Game Two
David Lough extended his hit streak to 17 games with a third inning double, but the Lakers managed just six hits against Grant Payton, who went the distance for Grand Valley.

Dan Bertolini went 2-for-3 to lead the Lakers.

Adam Nine, who entered the game leading the GLIAC with a 1.76 earned run average, allowed six runs in four innings and had his personal seven-game win streak snapped. The lefthander struck out four, but allowed nine hits and three walks.

Nick Sandy had a pair of two-run doubles for GVSU and Spud McKenzie had a solo home run.

Payton matched Dow's 10-0 mark, scattering six hits and four walks. He struck out six.

The Lakers left 11 runners on base in the game.