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Printer-Friendly ModeBaseball team continues to struggle in late innings
Cards drop four of five against Aquinas, Grand Valley
April 3, 2006 —
After losing three of four at Hillsdale last weekend, the SVSU baseball team was looking to get back on track. Instead, the Cards dropped a nine-inning contest to Aquinas early in the week and lost three of four at Grand Valley State over the weekend as they saw its overall record drop to 12-9.
The Cards played a solid game through the first six innings against Aquinas on Tuesday, but gave up six runs in the final three frames to fall to the Saints 9-7 in their first home game of the season.
Junior outfielder Chris Hanna led the way offensively, belting a grand slam in the sixth to put the Cards ahead 7-3. Hanna went 2-for-5 with two runs and an additional RBI double.
The Cardinals were unable to hold on, though, as Aquinas plated one in the top of the seventh and five more in an eighth inning that featured a three-run home run by Aquinas catcher Lee Moser and two Cardinals errors.
Matt Parker took the loss on the mound. The junior righthander gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings, four of which were earned. Parker had relieved starter Aaron Dorgan, who had given up three runs in four innings, striking out two and walking three in the process.
After three days off, the team traveled to Allendale for two doubleheaders against preseason GLIAC favorite, No. 16 Grand Valley State.
In Game 1 on Saturday, the Cardinals again struggled in the late innings, eventually falling to the Lakers 5-3.
The Cards held a 2-1 lead after their half of the sixth before the Lakers plated four in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. The Cardinals were able to scratch out one more run in the top of the seventh but could muster no more.
Sophomore outfielder Brandon Fanion drove in two of the Cards' runs with an RBI single in the first and a solo home run in the third. Senior outfielder Jason Burghardt drove in the other run for the Cards, going 3-for-4 on the day.
Senior lefty Jim Kelly took the loss, working five innings and fanning five while giving up three earned runs. Junior Ben Esparza pitched an inning of relief and gave up two.
In Game 2, the Cards ran into reigning GLIAC Pitcher of the Year Grant Payton and fell 2-0 in a pitcher's duel that featured only eight combined hits.
Senior Steve Liebrecht started on the mound, giving up two runs and striking out two in four innings. Parker and senior Elijah Martin each pitched an inning of relief, holding the Lakers scoreless the rest of the way.
The Cards' solid pitching was bettered by Payton, who went the distance and struck out five. Payton allowed only three hits, all singles.
On Sunday the Cards fared a little better, winning the first game of the doubleheader 8-5. Junior right hander Scott Schlaff improved to 4-1 on the season by tossing a complete game and striking out six while giving up only one earned run.
The Cardinals displayed a balanced offensive attack, as five different players collected multiple hits. Burghardt and senior first baseman Ben Grinnell drove in two runs apiece.
The Cards were lucky to grab the win, though, as their problems in the field continued. The team committed four more errors, leading to four unearned Lakers runs.Any momentum the Cardinals had from the Game 1 victory was quickly squashed in Game 2 as the Lakers scored in every inning but the first to pick up a 12-5 victory.
A pair of young SVSU pitchers got rocked, as freshman Jon Herendeen and redshirt freshman Larry Roelens combined to give up 10 runs in five innings of work.
Offensively, sophomore outfielder Reed Welker and junior third baseman Tom Seehafer hit home runs while Burghardt collected two more hits.
For the weekend, the Cardinals struggled against Grand Valley's starting pitching, as Lakers Jeremy Dow, Payton, and Nate McCrory combined to pitch 20 innings and gave up only five earned runs in the Lakers' three wins.
In comparison, the Cardinals' eight pitchers gave up 17 earned runs and walked 14 in the Cards' three losses.
The team returns to action tomorrow with a 2 p.m. game at Oakland University.
SVSU will then play at Rochester College on Wednesday before hosting a pair of doubleheaders at home against Mercyhurst over the weekend.