Box Score - Game One (L, 5-1)

Box Score - Game Two (W, 2-0)

North Canton, Ohio - The #15 Grand Valley State Lakers went on the road on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 17), as the team earned a doubleheader split against the Walsh Cavaliers. In the opening game, Walsh scored five unearned runs in the fifth inning to win 5-1 before GVSU responded to win the nightcap by a 2-0 shutout.

Game one went Walsh's way after three Laker errors in the fifth inning plated all five Cavalier runs. However, Grand Valley State was able to earn a split in game two thanks to a pair of first-inning runs and a dominant performance from junior righty Hannah Santora. After the doubleheader, GVSU is 13-3 on the season, while Walsh is 10-8 overall.

In the second inning of the opening game, GVSU put together its only run - and it came on just one swing. Sophomore third baseman Miranda Clearysmacked her first home run of the season on a one-out solo shot to left field to put the Lakers ahead 1-0. Cleary, the GLIAC Freshman of the Year last season, tagged 19 homers in her rookie year.

Senior righthander Andrea Nicholsonmade the one-run lead hold up until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Walsh lit up the scoreboard for five runs on five hits, but also three GVSU miscues. The Cavaliers received an RBI single from Kayla Marcus to tie the score at 1-1, but the pivotal play was a bases-loaded double from Chelsy Testa, scoring all three runners for a 4-1 lead. After the inning was over, Walsh had tallied a 5-1 advantage and all five runs off Nicholson were unearned.

GVSU would put two runners on base in the sixth inning and another runner on in the seventh, but could not score again, as Walsh closed out the first game victory. Walsh junior Erin Ebert allowed just one earned run on six hits in a complete-game win, moving to 5-4 on the year. Nicholson suffered a tough loss despite not giving up an earned run. She allowed five unearned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. In falling to 6-2, Nicholson struck out four batters and did not issue a walk.

The only Laker with more than one base hit was senior left fielder Maggie Kerrigan, who was 2-for-3, while Cleary was 1-for-3 with the solo roundtripper.

In the nightcap, Grand Valley State got off to a good start with a pair of runs in the top of the first frame. Junior center fielder Nellie Kosola led off with a single and was pushed to third after sophomore shortstop Briauna Taylor doubled. Taylor is the reigning GLIAC Player of the Week. Both runners came all the way around to score on a single from junior Katie Martinto give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

It would be the only runs scored - and needed - for GVSU's Santora. After a tough outing on Tuesday against Saint Joseph's, Santora was terrific for the Lakers. She did not give up a base hit until the third inning and did not allow more than one hit in any inning. In the seventh inning, Walsh put two runners on base (first and second) with two outs, but Santora induced a groundout to end the game.

Santora moved to 5-1 after a strong seven-inning effort in which she gave up just three base hits. She did walk two batters, but struck out a season-high eight batters in the win.

The Lakers outhit Walsh 11-3 in the second game, as Taylor went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Kerrigan again went 2-for-3 and Martin delivered the only two RBI in the game.

On Sunday, Grand Valley State travels to Urbana for a twinbill with the Blue Knights. The games are scheduled to start at 1:00 and 3:00. On Mar. 5 in Clermont, Fla., GVSU was victorious by an 8-0 score over Urbana.