Box Score - Game One (L, 6-1)
Box Score - Game Two (W, 1-0, 9 innings)
Allendale, Mich. -
A meeting between the top two teams in the GLIAC and two of the best teams in the Midwest Region turned out to be a draw on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 14) in Allendale, as #17 Grand Valley State and Ashland each won one game of a doubleheader. The Eagles opened the day with a 6-1 victory before GVSU outlasted Ashland 1-0 in nine innings of game two.
AU scored all six runs in the first three innings of game one to cruise to the five-run victory. After eight scoreless innings of game two, Grand Valley State finally broke through in the top of the ninth inning as junior Katie Martin delivered the game's only run on a solo home run to dead center field. Junior pitcher Hannah Santora was tremendous in the nightcap, allowing just five hits in a career-high nine innings.
Entering Saturday's twinbill, Grand Valley State held a one-game lead over Ashland in the GLIAC standings. The Eagles were actually ranked second in the Midwest Regional rankings that were released this past Wednesday, while GVSU was slotted third in the region. The top two teams in the regional rankings after conference tournaments are complete will host NCAA Tournament games. With the split, Grand Valley State is now 34-10 overall and 17-7 in GLIAC play. AU is 32-12 on the year and 16-8 in conference games.
In a showdown of two of the better pitchers in the league, Ashland sent out senior Emlyn Knerem (21-2 entering game one) while GVSU countered with senior Andrea Nicholson (14-7). The Eagles were able to push a run across the plate in the top of the first inning, however, as they used a two-out bloop double from Alyssa Kelley and an RBI single from Franki Gironda to open up the 1-0 lead.
There was a scary moment in the top of the second inning. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Nicholson was facing AU's Kaely Stucin in her first at-bat of the game. Stucin hit a lined shot back up the middle, which struck Nicholson in the face and bounced to third baseman Miranda Cleary, who fired to first base for the 1-5-3 putout. Nicholson, however, was able to stand up and get into a golf cart before being escorted off the field. She did not return to the ballgame.
With the score at 1-0 in the top of the second inning, the Lakers brought in sophomore Kayla Hurd to replace Nicholson. Ashland tagged Hurd for three consecutive hits (two doubles) after Hurd walked the first two batters she faced. After the inning had ended, AU had all the momentum and led 5-0.
GVSU quickly answered back with a solo home run to dead center field off the bat of sophomore Tonya Calkins to make the score 5-1. Ashland responded with a counterpunch of a solo homer in the third inning from Tawna Garver, whose blast to right field made the score 6-1.
Neither team would create much offense after that, as Ashland managed just three hits in the final four innings and GVSU tallied only two hits in its last five at-bats.
Knerem earned the win and improved to 22-2. She gave up one run on five hits, while walking one batter and fanning five. Unfortunately, Nicholson (14-8) was tagged with the loss, giving up one run on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. Hurd settled down after her first inning of work and allowed five runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings in the circle.
Five different Lakers recorded base hits, but Calkins' home run and a leadoff double for Kayleigh Bertram were the only extra-base hits for GVSU in game one.
In the nightcap, GVSU brought out Santora and her 16-2 record, while Ashland countered by throwing Knerem for the second straight game. The Lakers, after recording just five hits in game one, were able to get to Knerem for a hit in the first inning (a double by Martin) and three base hits in the second frame.
After a leadoff single from Bertram in the top of the second, Calkins doubled to center field. Bertram rounded third and headed for home, but a perfect relay from centerfielder Taylor Menhart to shortstop Bri Woody to Garver at home plate snubbed Bertram's attempt, as she was called out at home on a bang-bang play. The Lakers still put runners on first and third with two outs, but a swinging strikeout ended the inning.
Knerem was pulled after three innings of game two, giving her 10 innings of work on the day. The Eagles inserted Amber McDermott, who kept Grand Valley State at bay, though the Lakers had their chances to score.
GVSU immediately loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, as junior Emily Holt was walked with two runners on base. Pinch hitter Maggie Kopas was inserted into the game, but her fly ball to right field was caught, ending the threat.
On the other side, Santora was cruising through the Ashland lineup. At one point from the second through the sixth innings, the righthander retired 12 consecutive batters before allowing a one-out double to Kelley. Santora worked out of the frame with a lineout and a swinging strikeout.
In the top of the seventh, the Lakers had a golden opportunity foiled by a great defensive play. With two outs, Martin singled to left field. Junior Emily Jones followed and sent a long drive to the warning track near left center field. AU's centerfielder, Menhart, was twisting and turning and made a terrific catch right at the base of the fence, as Martin was easily going to score had the ball fallen to the ground. The game would continue to the bottom of the seventh inning, still scoreless.
GVSU put more pressure on Ashland in the eighth inning. Sophomore Miranda Cleary notched a two-out double down the right field line and Holt was intentionally walked to put two runners on with two outs. McDermott was able to induce a groundout to end the Laker threat.
Santora continued to have little problem with the Eagles in the eighth. She struck out the first two batters of the frame and made a fantastic stop on a comebacker up the middle for the third out of the inning. Tied with no score, the teams pushed on to the ninth inning.
The first two Lakers grounded out in the ninth inning before Martin stepped to the plate. GVSU's second all-time leading home run hitter, Martin hit one of the biggest homers of her career, a mammoth blast to dead center field that finally broke the scoreless tie. The 35th roundtripper of Martin's career brought life to the Laker faithful in the stands.
Santora entered the bottom of the ninth inning, which is something she had never done before. Her career-high of eight innings was done twice earlier this season, including in yesterday's 4-3 win over Ohio Dominican. She recorded the first two outs on soft liners before Garver singled to left field. Santora finally ended the terrific pitchers' duel by catching a popup off the bat of Stucin to give GVSU a well-deserved split in the doubleheader. The Lakers are now 3-0 this season in extra-inning games.
Moving to 17-2 on the season, Santora was tremendous. She tossed a career-high nine innings and allowed just five base hits. Santora walked just two batters and struck out seven hitters. McDermott (8-6) was saddled with the loss, giving up just the on run on five hits in six innings.
Despite little offense in game two, Martin went 3-for-5 with a double and the game-winning homer. Calkins went 2-for-4 with a double, while Holt was 2-for-2 and reached base two other times on walks. Clearly also doubled in the ballgame, giving the Lakers four of the five extra-base hits.
These two teams will likely see each other again in GLIAC Tournament and NCAA Tournament postseason play. GVSU is back tomorrow for its final regular season home game of the season. The Lakers take on Lake Erie in a twinbill scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Grand Valley State's four seniors - Kerrigan, Nicholson, Becky Gill, and Carli Raisutis will be honored before the first game.
