Box Score  / box score (pdf)

Auburndale, Fla. – The Lewis University baseball team was unable to bounce back from an early seven-run deficit on Monday (March 3), falling to No. 7 Grand Valley State 17-6 at Lake Myrtle Stadium.
 
The Flyers fall to 4-3 on the season while the Lakers improve to 3-1 on the year.
 
"We just dug ourselves a hole early in the game," Lewis head baseball coach Tim McDonough said. "We need to clean up things defensively.
 
"Even though the score didn't indicate it, we swung the bats well against a very good Grand Valley State pitcher."
 
Grand Valley State opened the game posting five runs on five hits in the first inning and added two more in the second to jump out to a quick 7-0 lead on the Flyers.
 
The Flyers cut into the Lakers lead in the bottom of the third, as junior Mike Barajas (Chicago, Ill./Nazareth) took first after getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second on the first of three singles in the game by sophomore Joel Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill./St. Laurence). With Barajas and Rotkvich moving up a base on a wild pitch, senior Alex Slaby (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport West) grounded out to short, collecting a RBI as Barajas crossed home plate.
 
Senior Jake Murray (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) drew a two-out walk before senior Ben Albano (West Dundee, Ill./Jacobs) ripped a triple to right center, scoring Rotkvich and Murray to cut the Lakers lead to 7-3.
 
Grand Valley put up eight runs fifth on six hits, including a double, and two Lewis miscues to push their lead to 15-3. The Lakers added to their lead in the top of the sixth on a two-run homerun to make it 17-3.
 
Lewis scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a three-run blast to left field by sophomore Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport).
 
Flyer starter freshman Brad Elmore (Bolingbrook, Ill./Bolingbrook) (0-1) took the loss, giving up seven runs on nine hits in four innings of work. He also walked three and struck out three Grand Valley batters.
 
Grand Valley State starter Aaron Jensen (1-1) earned the victory giving up three runs on three hits in five innings on the mound. He also walked three and struck out three.
 
The Flyers and Lakers return to the field on Tuesday (March 4) for a 2:30 PM ET contest.