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After a 2-0 start to the 2015 season on Friday at the Lewis Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Ill., the Grand Valley State softball team continued its strong early season play on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The Lakers finished the weekend with a 4-1 record after playing three games in a 15-hour span.

GVSU played a pair of night games on Saturday, splitting the two contests. The Lakers matched up with #5 Missouri-St. Louis and fell to the Tritons in a pitcher's duel, 1-0. From there, the team regrouped and defeated Upper Iowa (8-1) before earning a mercy rule victory over Kentucky Wesleyan (11-3) on Sunday morning.

In the five games for Grand Valley State over the weekend, the Lakers outscored its five opponents by a 34-9 margin. The GVSU pitching and defense was terrific in the opening weekend, allowing two, two, one, one, and three runs, respectively, in the five games.

Against Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday night, junior pitcher Sara Andrasik was terrific. The righthander tossed a complete game three-hitter, allowing one run on just three singles. Andrasik walked one batter and struck out five Triton hitters.

The lone run of the game came in the top of the fourth inning. After an UMSL single and a passed ball, another single brought the lead runner around for the game's only tally. That was the only trouble Andrasik found herself in against the Tritons. 

GVSU had one major scoring chance in the second inning - runners on second and third with nobody out - but were unable to push the run across the plate.

Sophomore Ellie Balbach led the Laker offense by going 2-for-2 with a walk. Junior McKenze Supernaw was 1-for-3, while classmate Chelsea Horvath went 1-for-2. The Lakers outhit UMSL, 4-3.

Following the loss, GVSU bounced back and took a quick 1-0 lead over Upper Iowa on a solo home run from Kelsey Dominguez. The sophomore lined a shot over the left field fence in the top of the first frame. Dominguez added a two-run double in the second inning to up the Laker lead to 3-0.

Leading 3-1, Grand Valley State received another roundtripper - this time from freshman Teagen Shomin. The lefty roped a two-run blast over the fence in right field to put GVSU on top, 5-1.

Ahead 7-1 in the seventh frame, pinch hitter AJ Castle delivered an RBI double to give the Lakers the 8-1 lead and close the scoring. Freshman Courtney Reinhold earned the complete game victory. The rookie scattered seven hits, one walk, and struck out three batters for her first collegiate win.

Grand Valley State came back early on Sunday morning and it appears the offense didn't cool down much. After a scoreless first three frames against Kentucky Wesleyan, the Lakers broke through with five runs in the top of the fourth.

Balbach tallied an RBI single to open the scoring. Freshman Kaylie Rhynard reached on a bunt single and two Lakers came around to score when the throw to first to get Rhynard leaked out into right field.

The small-ball continued for GVSU, as sophomore Marianne Deppe brought Rhynard home on a suicide squeeze bunt, upping the lead to 4-0. Shomin followed with a double to score fellow freshman Tanner Kiessel, who doubled earlier in the frame. 

Kentucky Wesleyan plated a run in the bottom of the frame, but the Lakers added two more in the fifth inning. Leading 7-3 in the sixth, GVSU roped four consecutive singles and scored four times to finish the game with the 11-3 victory.

Balbach earned the victory by tossing the first four innings. Senior Sarah Wyse pitched the final two frames and helped turn a crucial double play on a line drive back to her in the circle to get out of a fifth inning jam.

Rhynard (three runs scored) and Kiessel (two runs, two RBI, double) each went 3-for-3 in the victory over the Panthers. Balbach was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Officially, Deppe was 0-for-0 at the plate, but picked up two RBI on a pair of sacrifice bunts, a sacrifice fly, and a walk.

The Lakers will take their 4-1 record to Clermont, Fla. over spring break. GVSU begins its 12-game schedule on Mar. 1 with a pair of games against Mary. During the week in Florida, Grand Valley State is scheduled to play two games apiece over six days, with one off day.