Patrick Sharp; Purdue Northwest Baseball Splits With Grand Valley State
HAMMOND, Ind. – An impressive start on the mound in game one by freshman Chad Patrick (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) helped lead the Purdue Northwest baseball team to a 3-1 victory over Grand Valley State University (Mich.) in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action Saturday afternoon at Albert’s Diamond Jewelers Field in Dowling Park in Hammond, Ind. Unfortunately, the momentum did not carry over into game two as the Pride managed just one hit in a 6-0 loss.
All of the scoring for game one occurred in the fifth inning as the Lakers scored in the top half on a RBI single to centerfield to go up, 1-0. Junior Larry Crisler (Gary, Ind./Snead State CC/Bishop Noll) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single to left field. Later in the frame, a pair of throwing errors allowed PNW to score two more runs to go up for 3-1 for good.
Patrick earned the win (3-0) throwing the first five innings and allowing just three hits, one run (earned) and two walks with six strikeouts. Senior Fabian Del Real (Calumet City, Ill./Sauk Valley CC/TF North) pitched well in the sixth inning giving up just a walk with one strikeout. Freshman Brandon Haczynski (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) got the save (3) pitching the final frame and allowing just one hit.
Crisler recorded PNW’s lone hit in the second game as Grand Valley State scored five runs in the top of the third and another in the fourth for the 6-0 win. The Lakers did all their offensive damage in the third inning with two outs scoring on three straight RBI singles and then finishing with a two-run triple to centerfield.
Junior Kyle Flessner (Thomasboro, Ill./Kankakee CC/Rantoul Township) suffered the loss (0-2) in the late game Saturday for the Pride. He threw the first three innings and gave up five hits, five runs (all earned) and two walks with three strikeouts. Junior Dylan Collins (Jasonville, Ind./Vincennes JC/Shakamak) pitched two innings of relief and allowed two hits and a run. Junior Joe Davi (New Lenox, Ill./Joliet JC/Lincoln-Way Central) threw the sixth inning and gave up a hit with one strikeout. Sophomore Jordan Petty (Fort Collins, Colo./Highland) pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.
Purdue Northwest (9-5 overall) closes out its conference series with Grand Valley State on Sunday, March 25, with a nine-inning game. The final game of the series is slated for a noon CT start at Albert’s Diamond Jewelers Field in Dowling Park.