Box Score - Game One (W, 6-1)
Box Score - Game Two (L, 5-1)
Hillsdale, Mich. -
A midweek doubleheader between #20 Grand Valley State and Hillsdale turned into the second split twinbill between the two teams this season. GVSU was victorious in game one by a 6-1 final on Wednesday (Apr. 18) in Hillsdale before the Chargers responded by taking game two, 5-1.
On Apr. 4 in Allendale, HC won the opener (3-0) before the Lakers bounced back to win the nightcap, 3-2. Game one on Wednesday was won by GVSU thanks to three home runs - a pair from sophomore shortstop Briauna Taylor and another from junior designated player Katie Martin. In game two, the score was tied 1-1 in the seventh inning before Hillsdale erupted for four runs to gain the split.
After Wednesday's doubleheader, Grand Valley State is 37-11 overall and 20-8 in GLIAC play. Hillsdale is 23-18 overall and 15-11 in conference games. In the latest regional rankings released earlier that day, GVSU was the second-ranked team in the Midwest Region, while Hillsdale was eighth.
The Lakers were able to plate a pair of runs in both the first and second innings to open up an early 4-0 lead in game one. After Taylor was hit by a pitch in the top of the first, Martin smashed a two-run homer to left field. The roundtripper gives Martin eight homers this season and she has now hit a home run in six consecutive doubleheaders. It was the only time in those six twinbills that Martin homered in the first game.
GVSU put a pair of runners in scoring position in the second inning and pinch runner Becky Gill scored on an RBI single from leadoff hitter Nellie Kosola. The next batter, Taylor, singled up the middle to drive in senior Maggie Kerrigan, who tallied a single to center field earlier in the inning. The Lakers were now ahead comfortably by a 4-0 score.
Junior pitcher Hannah Santora held Hillsdale to just one hit after the opening three innings, while GVSU plated another run in the top of the fourth. Taylor was again involved, as she drilled a two-out solo home run to left field to put Grand Valley State ahead by a 5-0 count. The Chargers threatened in the bottom of the inning with runners on second and third base and just one out, but Santora retired the next two batters on a strikeout and a fly out to end the frame.
Hillsdale did put a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth as senior Laura Homan singled up the middle, which scored Jennifer Berlet, who smacked a one-out double two batters earlier. That run snapped a 24.1 inning scoreless streak for Santora, who had not allowed a run in her previous four outings (and prior 18.2 innings) before Wednesday.
The Lakers got that run right back in their next at-bat, as Taylor crushed another solo homer to left field to up the lead to 6-1. Taylor's two dingers were her 10th and 11th on the season. Her 11 homers are the fifth-most in a single season in GVSU history, while her 17 career blasts tie her for sixth place with former Lakers Crista Buresh (2004-07) and Erin Burgess (1998-01).
Santora did allow a single in the bottom of the seventh, but struck out the other three Chargers she faced, with two coming on strikeouts looking. She improved to 19-2 on the season with another complete game victory. In seven innings, Santora allowed one run on five hits. She walked three batters and fanned seven.
Taylor had a terrific opening game, going 3-for-3 with the two solo homers, three runs scored, and three RBI. The only other player in the game with more than one hit was sophomore Tonya Calkins, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
Neither team could amount much of an offense in game two, turning the nightcap into somewhat of a pitcher's duel between GVSU sophomore Kayla Hurd and Hillsdale's Homan. The Lakers finally got to Homan, who had shut out Grand Valley State in the 3-0 loss two weeks ago, for a run in the fourth. After sophomore Miranda Cleary reached on a fielding error, junior Jackie Teutsch entered the game as a pinch runner. Teutsch stole second base with two outs, which was key, as the next batter, senior Maggie Kerrigan, drilled a double to center field, easily scoring Teutsch for the game's first run.
Hillsdale answered in its next at-bat. In the top of the fifth inning, a walk and a single put Charger runners at first and third base. Jessica Guertin pushed the runner home with a sacrifice fly, tying the score at 1-1.
Santora entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and worked out of a jam (runners on second and third with one out) without allowing the go-ahead run to score. In the seventh, however, Hillsdale notched four runs on five hits. The Chargers received back-to-back RBI doubles from Guertin and Berlet before Taylor Schulty hit a two-run homer to left field. GVSU put its first two hitters in the bottom of the frame (junior Emily Holt and Kerrigan) on base via singles, but the Lakers would not be able to score during their final at-bat.
Santora was dealt the loss, after allowing four runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings. She is now 19-3 on the season. Hurd pitched well in her second conference start, giving up one run on three hits in five innings in the circle. Holt and Kerrigan each recorded a pair of hits, both going 2-for-3 in game two.
Grand Valley State closes out its regular season this weekend at Lake Superior State. The matchup of the Lakers was originally scheduled for a Friday-Saturday series, but weather has pushed that back to a Saturday-Sunday schedule. GVSU and LSSU will meet at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Apr. 21) and at 11:00 a.m on Sunday (Apr. 22).
