The Griffins continued their spring trip with a doubleheader against nationally ranked Grand Valley State of the GLIAC. SHU had seven hitters in a row reach in the seventh inning as they rallied for a 6-3 victory.
Garret Vrbanic walked off the Lakers in game two by scoring the game winning run with two outs from third base while the Laker pitcher had the ball for a 3-2 Griffin win. SHU improves to 6-4 on the season and the Lakers drop to 8-4 on the season.
Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard in the first two innings. SHU threatened in the top of the first inning. The Griffins got two runners on with two outs and
Mark Colella drove a ball to the wall in deep left center but the Lakers left fielder made a nice catch to end the threat.
The game remained scoreless thru four innings with the Lakers threatening in the bottom of the fourth. SHU starter
Josh Keefe was able to strand two runners at second and third with a strikeout to end the threat. Grand Valley was finally able to get to Keefe in the fifth. The Lakers hit a leadoff homer and added a second run on a two out RBI single.
SHU tied the score at two in the top of the sixth.
Carl Turner led off the inning with a double. He scored on an opposite field double from
Sam Vilk.
Andrew Chuba pinch ran for Vilk and scored on an oppo field single from Colella. Grand Valley took advantage of two walks to leadoff the bottom of the sixth, scoring a run to take a 3-2 lead.
Things got crazy in the top of the seventh as seven straight Griffins reached base after one out. After one out,
MP Buckley singled and pinch hitter
Evan Myers doubled.
Craig Lewis knocked in both runners with a double and Turner followed with a bomb to left field giving the Griffins a 6-3 lead.
Kenny Wells threw a scoreless seventh for his first save.
Lewis led the offense with 3 hits. Turner,
Tom McCarthy and Colella each added 2 hits.
In game two, the Lakers got on the scoreboard with a leadoff homer in the top of the third inning. They added another run on a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead.
Seton Hill tied the game at two in the fifth. After an out, Lewis drew his third walk of the game.
Garret Vrbanic reached on an error to put runners at first and second. McCarthy singled thru the left side of the infield to drive in Lewis. After a strikout, Vrbanic stole third and scored on a throwing error, tying the game at two.
The Griffins then walked off the Lakers in the seventh. Vrbanic reached on an error with one out. He moved to second on a single from McCarthy. Vrbanic then moved to third on a fly out from Colella. Garret then took off from third base as the pitcher wasn't paying attention and scored the game winning run.
McCarthy led the Griffins with three hits.
Zack Martinelli went the distance to earn the win. He gave up two runs, one earned on six hits. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter.
SHU will continue their Spring Trip with a matchup with Tampa on Monday afternoon at 3 PM.
