Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

Allendale, Mich. - On a rainy, windy, and chilly day in Allendale, Grand Valley State split a pair of conference games against visiting Wayne State on Saturday (Apr. 16). The Lakers' bats came alive in game one for an 11-2, five-inning victory before Wayne State evened the day by defeating GVSU 4-1 in the nightcap. Grand Valley State collected eight extra-base hits in the opener, including three home runs in the mercy rule victory.

It was a strong matchup of the two teams, as GVSU entered the week as the top ranked team in the Midwest Regional rankings, while Wayne State was ranked eighth. In fact, if the season ended today and the NCAA Tournament began, the Lakers and Warriors would be squaring off in postseason play. With the split, Grand Valley State is 30-7 overall and 16-4 in league play, while WSU is 21-18-1 on the year and 9-8-1 in the GLIAC. It is the 16th time in program history that the Lakers have won 30 games, while GVSU's 16 conference victories is one win shy of the program record set in both 2002 and 2003.

Wayne State scored first in both games on Saturday, as the Warriors tallied a run in both the first and second innings of game one. The Lakers quickly cut the 2-0 deficit in half when freshman Miranda Cleary lifted a high fly ball to right center field that sailed over the fence for a leadoff homer in the second. It was Cleary's 16th home run of the season, moving her into third place in a single season in GVSU history. Her 16 roundtrippers is tied for seventh-most in a career in Laker history.

In the bottom of third inning, the Lakers not only took the lead, but opened the game up with five runs on four hits. Grand Valley State loaded the bases on an error, a single, a wild pitch, and an intentional walk to sophomore slugger Katie Martin. Freshman Tonya Calkins immediately followed with a line drive to center field that doubled as a sacrifice fly, scoring Brittany Taylor from third base and tying the game at 2-2. Cleary was up next and doubled to left field, pushing Bertram home for a 3-2 lead. Briauna Taylor then drove a pitch deep to right center field that cleared the fence for a three-run homer and a 6-2 Laker advantage. It was Taylor's fourth roundtripper of the season.

Junior righthander Andrea Nicholson kept cruising in the circle after the opening two innings and the Lakers rewarded her with five more runs in the fourth inning. Bertram led off with a double to center field and scored two batters later on a single from Calkins. After a double from Cleary and an infield single from Briauna Taylor, the bases were loaded for junior catcher Carli Raisutis. The backstop drove the WSU offering to dead center, but the wind pushed the ball towards right field and it ended up falling just over the fence in right center field for a grand slam. Raisutis' second home of the season (and the team's second grand slam of the year) built the lead to 11-2.

Nicholson finished the game in the fifth inning, with GVSU winning by mercy rule. She improves to 14-1 on the season, allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings. She walked a batter and struck out four Warriors. Nicholson has won her last 13 decisions and not lost since Mar. 7. In the month of April, Nicholson is 6-0 with a 2.08 earned run average and has struck out 38 batters while giving up just six free passes.

Cleary led the way with a 3-for-3 performance, including three extra-base hits. She tallied two doubles and a homer, while driving in two runs and scoring three times. Briauna Taylor went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs, and three RBI, while Bertram was also 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Raisutis delivered four RBI and went 1-for-2, while Calkins was 1-for-2 with a pair of ribbies.

In game two, Wayne State again scored early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back home runs from Alison Allen and Brittany Omelanchuk. The 3-0 lead for the Warriors looked safe as Lauren McLaughlin kept the Lakers off the scoreboard. GVSU touched up McClaughlin for nine base hits, but could only push one run across the plate and left 12 runners on base. Grand Valley State left a runner on base in all seven innings and stranded two runners on base at the end of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings.

The Lakers had runners on second and third base in the fifth with two outs and trailing 4-0. But a harmless fly ball to right field got Wayne State out of the jam. GVSU finally pushed through for a run in the sixth inning. Raisutis singled to left field with one out and was sacrificed to second base on a bunt. Brittany Taylor followed with a single up the middle, scoring Raisutis and giving the Lakers some life, cutting the score to 4-1.

Martin and Calkins opened up the seventh inning with consecutive doubles, but Martin could only move to third on Calkins' two-bagger, as it was slightly misplayed by the center fielder. However, a pair of groundouts and a strikeout left Martin and Calkins both in scoring position and ended the game.

The loss went to Martin, who allowed four runs on five hits in two innings in the circle. She is 8-4 on the year. At the plate in game two, Martin was 3-for-4 with a double. Sophomore Hannah Santora pitched well in relief, as the righty tossed four scoreless innings, giving up three hits. Santora did not walk a batter and struck out three Warriors. Calkins was 2-for-4 with a double, while Brittany Taylor went 1-for-4 and drove in the Lakers' only run of the nightcap.

Grand Valley State finishes off its busy weekend with its third straight home doubleheader. The Lakers face Findlay on Sunday (Apr. 17) in a noon start.