April 30, 2006

Stats

ALLENDALE, Mich. - David Lough had hits in both games to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, but No. 7 Grand Valley (38-8, 18-3 GLIAC) swept both games from Mercyhurst (32-15, 17-9 GLIAC) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader.

Game One
Grand Valley scored seven runs in the first inning to take an 8-2 final.

In the Grand Valley first, the first five hitters all reached base via two hits and three walks. All four hits in the inning for GVSU were singles as the team plated the seven runs on four hits.

John Mang settled down after the rough first inning, allowing just a run on three hits over his final four innings of work.

Mercyhurst scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Matt Echan doubled with two outs and later scored on an error by GVSU's Dan Skirka in the fifth. David Lough had a base hit in the inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. He went 1-for-3 in the game. The 'Hurst got on the board in the seventh on a sac fly by Lough that scored Dan Bertolini.

Joe Luli went 2-for-4 for Mercyhurst. Mang (4-1) took his first loss, allowing eight runs, five earned, on seven hits and seven walks. He struck out four. Greg Tellex pitched a scoreless sixth in relief.

Jeff Sinicki improved to 6-2 on the year, tossing a complete game. He held Mercyhurst to five hits and a walk, striking out two. Lee VanStreain, who leads the GLIAC in hitting, went 3-for-4 in the contest.

Game Two
Grand Valley broke open an 8-4 game with a seven run sixth inning to complete the sweep of the season series.

RBI singles by Jamie Walczak in the second inning and Walter Wieczorek in the top of the fourth gave Mercyhurst a 2-1 lead through three and a half innings of play. David Lough singled and scored Wieczorek's base knock in the fourth, extending his hit streak to 19 straight games.

Grand Valley brought four runners home in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good. Lee VanStreain had a two-run double in the inning.

Mercyhurst answered with a run in the top of the fifth to cut it to 5-3. Lough singled in Dan Bertolini, who had reached on an error to lead off the inning.

GVSU's Dan Skirka clubbed a three-run homer in the fifth to make the score 8-3.

The 'Hurst scored their final run when Sean Weyant singled down the right field line to score Wieczorek in the sixth.

Lough and Wieczorek each had two hits for Mercyhurst. Wieczorek also scored twice.

Jeff Carrero, Nick Sandy, Casey Robrahn, Brandon Bard, and Skirka all had two hits for GVSU, as the home team had 15 hits in the game.

Eric Drobotij fell to 3-2, taking the loss for Mercyhurst. He allowed five runs, only two of which were earned, on four hits and four walks in 3.2 innings of work. He struck out three.

Vince Rizzi picked up the win in relief of Nate McCrory for Grand Valley. He allowed one run in 1.1 innings.

Mercyhurst will look to bounce back on Wednesday, May 3 with a doubleheader against Gannon at 1:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Utility Field.