Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery

Grand Rapids, MI—The Raiders earned a much needed pair of victories at Belknap Park on Tuesday afternoon. Both victories were by very narrow margins, 4-1 in the first and 3-2 in the second.  The guys are now 8-16 on the season, and have improved to 4-3 at home.

Raider’s ace pitcher Brendan Bender threw a superb game in the opening round of the double header. Bender pitched 7 innings and threw 9 strikeouts along the way and limited Kellogg to only 6 hits and 1 run. Brenden stymied Kellogg’s batters in the sixth inning, and threw 3 K’s.

After allowing Kellogg a run in the first inning, the Raiders offense stepped into gear.

The Raiders got on board with their first run, and added the go ahead run in the bottom of the third when Drew Dunbar scored on a Carlos Berroa sac-fly and Tyler Duke scored on an EJ Grochowalskii single. GRCC would earn 2 more runs in the bottom of the fourth to seal the victory when Brian Portelli scored on a Ron Sanders single and Christian Lienesch scored on a walk.  

Tyler Duke led his squad defensively with 9 putouts during play, followed by teammates Grochowalski and Portelli, with 4 apiece.

Both teams got off to a hot start in the second game before stepping into a defensive oriented game.

Aaron Jensen took the mound for the Raiders to start the game. Kellogg got on base 3 times during the first, 2 of which would eventually lead to scores.

The Raiders responded quickly, adding 2 runs of their own in the first. Portelli earned an RBI when he drove Jared Theissen in and Carlos Berroa scored on a passed ball.

Through the next 6 innings both teams had trouble finding the bases.

GRCC scored the go ahead run in the fourth inning when Portelli scored on a Orlowski single. The Raiders got on base twice more during the game, but held on long enough to earn the victory.

Aaron Jensen earned the victory for the Raiders and Eric Musselman stepped in to make the save.

The victories mark the Raiders second and third straight victory. Ranked at #17 to start the season, the Raiders will need to continue the win streak to fulfill their high expectations. The guys take the road next, when they head to South Holland, IL on Thursday to do battle with South Suburban College.