Cardinals drop 3 of 4 to Lakers

Offense puts up just five runs in first three games against Grand Valley before errors allow for final 9-5 victory

by Mary Oakley
Vanguard Staff Writer

March 26, 2007 —

Walt Head may be looking to younger players in the near future after winning just one of four home games against Grand Valley State this past weekend.

"We didn't play well," the Cardinals coach said. "[At times] some of the younger kids played well. The older kids are really struggling."

The fourth game of the series started off looking like it would conclude like the other three as junior pitcher Brandon Fanion gave up a home run to Laker Dan Skirka on the first pitch of the game.

The Lakers scored an additional run before the inning concluded and scored again in the third, putting them ahead 3-0. Things started to brighten when sophomore Kevin Schwedler scored on a hit by redshirt freshman Andy Ferrauiolo in the bottom of the third.

The fourth inning proved to be a blessing, as the Cards were able to go ahead with only three hits.

Things turned when junior Reed Welker started a rally of singles by hitting one up the middle. Fellow junior Max Bell and Schwedler followed with singles to the outfield.

Schwedler's hit scored Welker, who was the first of six to score. The rest of the runs came courtesy of Lakers errors in the field.

Not wanting to give up their potential sweep of the series, the Lakers went into the next inning hoping to find the same luck the Cards had against them in the previous inning. No such luck prevailed, as they were only able to score one run and left three runners on base.

The Lakers continued their pursuit in the sixth inning, but once again were only able to score one run.

SVSU came back in the sixth and scored two insurance runs. Fannion held the Lakers without a hit and the game ended 9-5.

While the last game of the series brought some joy, the first three were filled with headache.

The first game of Sunday's doubleheader looked like a repeat of Saturday's games, as the Lakers won 5-0.

Freshman pitcher Andrew Doyle was no match for the Lakers offense. He allowed seven hits and walked four while hitting four batters. The Cards inability to score was the key in the loss, as they left eight players on base with two in scoring position.

The start of the series started off with some promise, when sophomore Pete Vanderkolk hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the second after the Lakers scored twice in the top.

The Lakers weren't going to be threatened by a 2-1 ball game, and proceeded to score two runs in the top of the third and five runs in the top of the fifth.

The downfall of the fifth inning wasn't due to fielding errors, but rather wild pitches thrown by sophomore Larry Roelens, who came in for senior Scott Schlaff after 4.1 innings.

Schlaff gave up eight runs off 11 hits on the mound, while Roelens gave up three in 1.2 innings of work.

Down 11-1 at that point, the Cards saw brief hope in the bottom of the sixth, when sophomore Chris Hess scored on a wild pitch after getting on base with a single and advancing on a hit and another wild pitch. The inning came to a close when Vanderkolk grounded out to the shortstop and Welker was out at third from a first base throw.

The second half of Saturday's doubleheader proved to be the biggest heartbreaker of the weekend.

After giving up a run in the top of the second, the Cards played tough defense, holding the Lakers scoreless for three straight innings.

The Cards went ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth as both Welker and junior Danny Patterson scored on fielding errors.

The Lakers tied the game in the top of the sixth with an unearned run scored by Spud McKenzie. The Cards went ahead again in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by junior Ken Hoffman.

SVSU took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but the Lakers scored despite the Cards' defensive adjustments.

Matt Nickels started off the inning with a double off Cards' pitcher Scott Roy. He advanced to third on a sacrifice and then scored on Pat Radde's single.

Roy pitched nine innings before giving way to Scott Haase, who allowed two Lakers runs in the 10th.

The Lakers' Matt Middleton held the Cardinals without a hit in both the ninth and tenth innings to preserve a first-day sweep.

"We should have won the second game [on Saturday]," Head said. "We went into the seventh with a 3-2 lead and we just let it get away."

The team's hitting capability was the handicap that held them back from scoring runs this weekend.

"We didn't hit the ball all weekend," Head added. "This last game that we won was a gift, because they made all those mistakes out there."

The Cards will continue their GLIAC season this weekend against Mercyhurst in Pennsylvania with doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday.

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