GVSU Lakers Advance To D-II World Series With a 3-2 Win Over Indianapolis

GVSU Lakers Advance To D-II World Series With a 3-2 Win Over Indianapolis
Posted: May 17, 2009

Release courtesy of Tim Nott and the GVSU Sports Information Department

GVSU 3, Northern Kentucky 2
Box Score

Chillicothe, Ohio - #11 Grand Valley State (45-14-1) claimed a 3-2 win over Indianapolis (43-21) Sunday afternoon in the NCAA DII Midwest Regional Championship game in Chillicothe, Ohio to secure a berth in the NCAA DII World Series May 23-30 in Cary, N.C. The Lakers claimed a 4-3 win in the first championship game Sunday to force a second title tilt.

Grand Valley State scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when 2B Kyle Gendron doubled off the left field wall to start off the inning. Following a pop out by 1B Cory Maguire, CF Casey Robrahn doubled to right center to score Gendron and give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.

3B Josh Hillyard singled to right to open the sixth and Maguire reached on a bunt single with one out. Robrahn single to score Hillyard and Maguire moved to third. SS Brad Raj then singled to left to score Maguire and give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. Indianapolis made it interesting in the top of the ninth with two runs and two runners on, however LHP Matt Cade got the final two outs to preserve the win.

Starting and winning pitcher Andre Benjamin (9-1) tossed a masterpiece, yielding no runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. Benjamin struck out just one batter, but allowed no walks. Joe Jablonski pitched a scoreless eighth and allowed two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings or work before giving way to Cade who earned the save.

Robrahn was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Raj drove in one run on a 1-for-3 outing. Nickels, Hillyard, Gendron, Maguire and Anderson also collected one hit apiece.

Grand Valley State will be making its fourth NCAA DII World Series appearance since the 2003 season (2003, 2004, 2005, 2009). GVSU dropped a 5-4 decision to Indianapolis in the first game of the Midwest Regional on Thursday, but won four straight, including Sunday's sweep over the Greyhounds to claim the title.

CF Casey Robrahn was named the Midwest Regional Most Valuable Player, while 1B Cory Maguire, 2B Kyle Gendron, Robrahn and relief pitcher Joe Jablonski were all named to the Midwest Regional All-Tournament Team.