Box Score - Game One (W, 8-4)
Box Score - Game Two (W, 9-1, 5 innings)
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. -
Grand Valley State completed its four-game sweep at Lake Superior State on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 22), as the visiting Lakers reached the 40-win mark for the second straight year. #20 GVSU doubled up LSSU by an 8-4 score in the opener before run-ruling the home Lakers 9-1 in five innings.
In the opening game, Grand Valley State scored three runs in both the first and fifth innings and had enough offense - three doubles, two triples - to secure the win. GVSU scored the first nine runs of game two and knocked 10 base hits to earn the weekend sweep and clinch at least a share of the GLIAC regular season title.
Already the GLIAC North Division champions, Grand Valley State moved to 41-11 overall and 24-8 in conference play. The 24 conference wins are the most GVSU has ever won in league play, surpassing last season's total of 23 victories. It is the ninth time in program history that Grand Valley State has won at least 40 games in a year.
Ashland (22-8 in GLIAC play) travels to South Division counterpart Wayne State (21-9) on Tuesday in both teams' regular season finale. If AU wins both games against the Warriors, there will be co-champions of the regular season GLIAC championship. If Wayne State wins one or both games, GVSU is the outright conference champions.
Game one on Sunday saw Grand Valley State quickly go single-double-triple against Lake Superior State (8-29 overall, 5-25 GLIAC). Junior Nellie Kosola led off the game with a single to left field and scored on an RBI double from sophomore Briauna Taylor. The next batter, junior Katie Martin, tripled for the first time this season, which scored Taylor for a 2-0 lead. Martin would score a few batters later on a fielder's choice, giving GVSU a quick 3-0 advantage.
LSSU notched single runs in both the second and third innings of Laker starter Hannah Santora, making the score 3-2 heading into the fourth. After sophomore Miranda Cleary led off with a walk, she was pushed to third on an error and a sacrifice bunt. She later scored on an RBI groundout from senior Maggie Kerrigan, upping the lead to 4-1.
Grand Valley State put together a three-run inning in the top of the fifth that created some breathing room. Taylor and Martin led off the frame with back-to-back singles, moving to second and third on a throw from the outfield. Sophomore Tonya Calkins brought Taylor in with a sacrifice fly, while Martin scored after the next batter - junior Kayleigh Bertram - doubled to make the score 6-1. Bertram later crossed home plate after an LSSU error, giving Santora a 7-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, Kerrigan led off with a triple to right field, which was quickly followed by a double to left field from Kosola to make the score 8-1. LSSU was able to push a few runs across on a two-run single in the bottom half, but Santora settled down to retire the final four batters of the game and preserve the win. She pushes her record to 21-3 on the season by allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits in seven innings of work. She walked four batters, but struck out seven LSSU hitters.
Offensively, Martin was a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs scored. Kosola also reached the three-hit mark, going 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run. Taylor was 2-for-4 with a two-bagger, two runs, and a ribbie. Bertram (double) and Kerrigan (triple) each notched an extra-base hit in the win.
Martin started in the circle in game two and allowed a hit in the first inning, but the frame ended after junior catcher Emily Holt threw out the runner attempting to steal second base. That seemed to give GVSU momentum, as the Lakers scored three runs in their first at-bat. The big hit was a two-run single to right field from Calkins that scored Taylor (who walked) and Martin (reached on a fielder's choice). Bertram followed with an RBI single that pushed Calkins past home plate for a 3-0 cushion.
Despite LSSU loading the bases in the second inning, Martin worked her way out of trouble, keeping the score at 3-0. Four consecutive singles in the bottom of the second notched two more runs for Grand Valley State. It started with a single to center from Holt and an infield single off the bat of Kerrigan. Kosola then singled to left field, loading the bases for Taylor. Holt and Kerrigan scored on Taylor's two-run single, making the lead 5-0.
LSSU went 1-2-3 in the top of the third inning. Cleary led off and reached on an error in the bottom half of the frame before Holt drilled her second homer in as many days, a two-run shot that upped the advantage to 7-0. The blast was Holt's second of the season and would be the only extra-base hit for GVSU in game two.
Kosola's RBI groundout in the third and Cleary's RBI single in the fourth made it 9-0 going into the fifth inning. Lake Superior State did tally a run in the fifth, but it was not enough, as GVSU was able to win by the eight-run mercy rule.
Martin (3-0) earned the win by allowing one unearned run on five hits in five innings. She struck out three LSSU hitters and walked one. Holt went 2-for-3 at the plate with her homer, two runs scored, and two RBI. Kerrigan was the other Laker with more than one hit, going 2-for-2 and scoring twice.
Grand Valley State has concluded its regular season schedule and will next be in action at the GLIAC Tournament on Apr. 27-29 in Findlay, Ohio. Stay tuned to gvsulakers.com for more information after the regular season concludes on Tuesday.
