March 4, 2013
Game 1 Box Score - GVSU 5, Dowling 3
Game 2 Box Score - GVSU 6, Georgian Court 0
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Grand Valley State softball team picked up two wins on Monday morning at the NTC Spring Games. GVSU defeated Dowling, 5-3 and then picked up an impressive, 6-0 win against Georgian Court.
The Lakers are now 3-1 in the early part of the season as they prepare for a pair of games against Lewis (9 a.m.) and Assumption (11 a.m.) on Tuesday.
In the opening game of the day, Dowling held a 3-1 after four innings before GVSU plated four runs in the sixth to take the game. With junior Brittany Taylor reaching on an error, senior Emily Jones fired a two-run home run over the left center fence to tie the game. Senior Kayleigh Bertram then singled to left field and was replaced on the bag by freshman Chelsea Horvath.
A walk to junior Tonya Calkins put runners on first and second with one out. Junior Miranda Cleary reached on a misplay on a throw to first, which allowed Horvath to score from second. With runners on the corners, senior Emily Holt singled up the middle to bring Calkins home for the insurance run.
Dowling threatened in the seventh, putting two batters on with just one out. After another pop-up, it seemed the game was just a batter away, but a Laker error prolonged the inning and loaded the bases. Senior pitcher Hannah Santora then forced the final batter to pop up, getting out of the jam and winning her second game in as many days.
Santora tossed her second complete game allowing six hits, three runs (two earned) and four walks while striking out seven. Bertram went 3-for-3 and scored a run, while Holt was 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Game two – against Georgian Court – was a pitcher’s duel up as GVSU freshman Sara Andrasik only surrendered two hits and the Lakers left four runners stranded through the top of the sixth. With a lead off walk, Taylor was in place to score on classmate Katie Martin’s double to left field for the 1-0 lead. With Martin in scoring position, Georgian Court was able to turn a double play to end the inning. Martin’s two-base hit is the 52nd of her career and ties her for first in the GVSU record book.
With back-to-back outs in the seventh, it looked like Andrasik and the Laker defense would have to hold off the Lions, but a pinch-hit single from junior Alyssa Sharrard sparked a five-run inning. With freshman McKenze Supernaw now on for Sharrard, a double to left center from senior Nellie Kosola sent Supernaw for a trip around the bases.
Taylor picked up a walk and a single from Martin brought in Kosola from second. With runners on, Jones sent a single to the left field fence to bring home Taylor. A double from Bertram plated Martin and Jones for the 6-0 lead. After a pitching change, a line out ended the inning.
With one out, Georgian Court tallied back-to-back singles, but the Laker defense settled down and recorded the last two outs to take the game.
Andrasik finished the second game of her career with 11 strikeouts, while giving up just four hits and no walks on the day. Taylor went 2-for-2 against the Lions with two runs and two walks. Kosola and Martin each went 2-for-4, while Martin and Bertram tallied two RBI each.
