April 9, 2014

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Allendale, Mich. - The Grand Valley State softball team opened the home portion of its regular season schedule in style on Wednesday (Apr. 9), sweeping visiting Lake Superior State in Allendale. After recording an easy 13-1 victory in the opener, GVSU received an eighth-inning walk-off single in the nightcap to earn the sweep and its fifth straight win.

Wednesday's home opener was the latest since the 2004 and 2005 teams also played their home openers on Apr. 9. The victories put Grand Valley State at 16-5 on the season and 5-1 in conference play, while LSSU is now 4-14 overall and 3-9 in the GLIAC.

The doubleheader was originially scheduled for Sault Ste. Marie, so Lake Superior State was the home team in game one. GVSU scored early and often, tallying at least one run in every inning except the fifth frame. Leading 2-0 in the third, senior shortstop Briauna Taylor crushed the 30th homer of her career, a two-run shot to left center that scored freshman Kelsey Dominguez, who singled before Taylor's blast.

GVSU's lead was 4-0 when Dominguez notched a two-run single in the fourth inning and later scored on an RBI double from Taylor to up the advantage to 7-0. In the meantime, sophomore pitcher Sara Andrasik was cruising through the LSSU lineup. She retired the first eight batters she faced and did not allow a base hit until the fifth inning against a Lake Superior State team she no-hit last season.

Both Briauna and Brittany Taylor tacked on run-scoring singles in GVSU's five-run seventh inning for the final 13-1 tally. The top four hitters in Grand Valley State's lineup (Jenna Lenza, Dominguez, Briauna Taylor, Miranda Cleary) went 9-for-15 with three doubles, a homer, six runs, and 10 RBI.

Briauna Taylor was 3-for-5 with the double, home run, and four ribbies, while Lenza scored three times and picked up a pair of hits. Dominguez delivered three RBI, while Cleary added two hits and two RBI. Corner outfielders McKenze Supernaw and Chelsea Horvath each drove in two runs and picked up a pair of hits.

Andrasik moved to 7-3 with the complete game victory. She allowed one run on three hits, walking five and fanning four.

After the lopsided game one result, the teams unexpectedly found themselves in a pitcher's duel in game two. Juniors Lauren Gevaart (GVSU) and Brandi Anderson (LSSU) matched zeros on the scoreboard for the first seven innings in a solid battle.

Anderson set down Grand Valley State in order for the first three innings, while Gevaart allowed just three hits in the same span. Gevaart seemed to get better as the game went along, as she struck out the side in the fifth inning to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.

GVSU had a golden chance to score in the bottom of the sixth inning when Lenza and Dominguez tallied back-to-back singles and moved to second and third base with no outs. Two batters later, Cleary ripped a shot to LSSU third baseman Allison Traczyk, who mistakenly tagged third base, but then astutely threw home to catcher Kirsten Thompson, who tagged out a sliding Lenza to keep the game scoreless.

The home Lakers had another opportunity in the seventh, when Supernaw led off the frame by roping a double to the right centerfield gap. She moved to third base with two outs, but was unable to cross home plate.

Gevaart worked around a leadoff bunt single in the eighth inning to strand the runner on third base and get out of the jam. She was rewarded in the bottom half, as Lenza led off with a double to dead centerfield. Dominguez then singled on the ground past the diving LSSU second baseman, which brought Lenza in for the winning - and only - run of the game.

The rookie duo of Lenza and Dominguez were terrific in game two, combining to go 5-for-7 and producing the game's lone run. Lenza delivered a 3-for-4 performance, while Dominguez was 2-for-3. Another freshman - Janae Langs - was 1-for-2, meaning six of the seven GVSU hits in game two came from the newbies. In the twinbill, Lenza (5-for-7, two doubles, four runs) and Dominguez (4-for-6, four RBI) combined for a 9-for-13 effort with five ribbies and six runs scored.

The win went to Gevaart, who tossed an eight-inning shutout. She struck out eight LSSU batters and allowed just six hits and a walk. Gevaart is now a perfect 6-0 on the season with a 1.40 ERA.

Grand Valley State continues the eight-game homestand on Friday. The Lakers will face #14 Wayne State in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.