A pair of two-run innings, strong pitching efforts, and errorless defense helped Grand Valley State get off to a great start at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. on Sunday morning (Mar. 1). The Lakers began their 12-game spring break trip with consecutive 2-1 victories over the Mary Marauders.
 
GVSU opened the 2015 season with a 4-1 record last weekend (Feb. 20-22) at the Lewis Dome Invitational, an indoor tournament in Rosemont, Ill. On Sunday, the Lakers played their first games outdoors and did just enough to capture a pair of one-run wins.
 
Junior righthander Sara Andrasik and freshman righty Courtney Reinhold were terrific in the circle on Sunday. Each tossing a complete game, the duo combined to allow just two runs on 14 hits, walking two batters, and striking out nine Marauders.
 
Defensively, the Lakers did not commit an error in either game. GVSU improves to 3-0 this season when it does not commit a miscue.
 
Overall, Grand Valley State is 6-1 on the season, while Mary falls to 2-8 in 2015.
 
Despite being outhit (14-10) in the two games, the Lakers made good use of their offense, scoring twice in the fifth inning of the opener and another two runs in the fourth frame of the rematch.
 
Game one was scoreless until the fifth inning. GVSU plated two runs with two outs, as sophomore Kelsey Dominguez doubled to left field, bringing in freshman Tanner Kiessel, who had reached on a fielder's choice. The lead went to 2-0 when sophomore Jenna Lenza brought Dominguez around on an RBI single.
 
That was the only run support Andrasik would need. Mary pushed a run across the plate in the sixth inning, but Andrasik retired the first two batters in the seventh inning and received a foul popup to close the game.
 
In throwing a third consecutive complete game, Andrasik moved to 2-1 on the season. She allowed one run on six hits. In 21 innings this season, Andrasik has given up just 12 base hits. On Sunday, she walked two batters and fanned six hitters, while inducing 11 groundball outs.
 
Dominguez had two of the three Laker hits in the opener, with Lenza adding the other. Junior McKenze Supernaw was officially 0-for-0, but walked three times.
 
Game two followed a similar script. The Lakers broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning when the game was still scoreless. Sophomore Ellie Balbach doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame. Pinch runner Ali Vander Meer was driven in by Supernaw, who singled back up the middle for the game's first run.
 
Despite a double play in the inning, GVSU was still able to add a second tally. Freshman Kaylie Rhynard reached on a bunt single, moved to third base on a single from sophomore Marianne Deppe, and scored on a Kiessel RBI single to up the advantage to 2-0. The Lakers tallied five of their seven hits in the inning.
 
Mary was unable to score until the seventh inning, when the Marauders opened the frame with back-to-back singles. Both runners advanced a base on a fly ball and run was pushed across the plate on a groundout. Reinhold, however, got out of trouble by retiring the final batter on a flyball and preserving the opening day sweep.
 
Now 2-0 on the season, the rookie Reinhold scattered eight hits and did not walk a batter. She struck out three hitters and forced 10 flyball outs. Through her first two starts, Reinhold has a 0.50 earned run average.
 
Rhynard was the lone Laker in game two with multiple hits, as she was 2-for-3 and scored the eventual game-winning run.
 
GVSU returns to the field on Monday (Mar. 2). The Lakers face Cedarville at 11:00 a.m. and follow with Notre Dame College at 1:00 p.m.