May 11, 2006

Box Score

Grand Valley State knocked off #4-ranked and host school SIUE, 3-2, in eight innings in the first round of the Great Lakes Region Tournament Thursday. The Lakers were the #8 seed, while the Cougars were seeded #1. GVSU improves to 35-19 overall and will play Northern Kentucky on Friday, May 12 at 3:00 p.m. CT.

GVSU scored first in the game, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Sophomore second baseman Kristin Moleski walked to start off the inning and advanced to second base one out later on a sacrifice bunt by junior first baseman Crista Buresh. Sophomore designated player Elizabeth Smith singled to the third baseman and Moleski scored on the play.

SIUE came back to take a 2-1 lead, posting two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lakers came back, however, scoring the tying run in the top of the sixth inning. With one out in the inning Moleski doubled to right field and scored on the play as the right fielder committed an error.

The two teams remained tied after the seventh inning forcing extra innings. Sophomore right fielder Lisa Preuss started off the top of the eighth inning with a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Moleski. Preuss tagged up and advanced to third base on a sacrifice fly to right field by senior third baseman Denise Ireton. Buresh walked to put runners on the corners and Preuss scored on a single down the left field line by Smith.

The Lakers retired the Cougars in order in the bottom of the eighth to seal the 3-2 victory.

Freshman pitcher Lori Andjelich threw all eight innings of action, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs. GVSU outhit SIUE by a 5-4 margin and was led by Smith who went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Moleski was 1-for-1, scoring two runs.