Allendale, Mich. – As it has in all but five of its 14 doubleheaders this season, the Grand Valley State baseball team settled for a split. The No. 16 Lakers managed just one run on five hits in game one, but broke out the bats to the tune of 12 runs and 16 hits in the nightcap against Findlay on Friday (April 17). GVSU fell 4-1 in the opener, before bouncing back to take the finale 12-5.
 
The low-scoring affair started with three scoreless innings on both sides. Then the Lakers broke the tie with a run in the fourth.
 
Redshirt senior shortstop Kevin Zak led off the frame with a single to right. After advancing to second on a groundout from senior outfielder Jamie Potts, and a fly out to right by junior outfielder Jason Ribecky, senior third baseman Aaron Overbeck's double to left center plated GVSU's lone run.
 
After yielding just three hits in his first five innings of work, starting pitcher Tim Tarter gave up a leadoff double and a single to left, giving way to sophomore closer Matt Williams. Two more singles and a fielding error led to a three-spot for Findlay.
 
The Oilers added one more in the seventh, and the Lakers managed just one baserunner in their final two turns at the plate.
 
In addition to Overbeck and Zak, senior outfielder Mike Nadratowski and senior second baseman Jesse Abel were the only two GVSU batters to record a hit. Nadratowski went 1-for-3, while Abel collected his seventh multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-3 outing.
 
Everything turned around in a hurry for the Lakers in the finale. The club scored in six of the eight innings in which it hit, tallying at least 10 runs for the 12^th time this year.
 
A Findlay error with two outs kept the opening frame alive for Potts, who drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Once again, Overbeck delivered the first run, driving an RBI single through the right side.
 
GVSU went to work much earlier in the second, as McLaughlin singled to lead off the inning. Once a sacrifice bunt and a groundout moved him to third, Nadratowski shot a single up the middle, making it 2-0.
 
Although Findlay took advantage of two walks and a fielding error during its three-hit, three-run fourth inning, the Lakers came right back, knotting the score on a sacrifice fly by senior left fielder Mitchell Kozlowski.
 
The very next inning, GVSU posted a three-spot, rattling off four singles in its first five at bats. Nadratowski led off with a single, stole second, his ninth swipe of the year, and moved to third on Abel's fly out to center. Back-to-back singles by Zak and Potts produced a run. Three pitches later, Overbeck's single to center scored Zak. A two-out single by junior catcher John McLaughlin capped the go-ahead rally.
 
Zak's run was the 175^th of his career, breaking Giancarlo Brugnoni's ('14) school record.
 
Findlay closed the gap with two runs in the sixth, but it could only muster two hits and a walk in its final three offensive tries.
 
With the bullpen keeping the Oilers at bay, the Lakers gave their relievers plenty of insurance with a run in the seventh and five more in the eighth.
 
A leadoff single by Potts culminated in the seventh inning's only run. McLaughlin's third single of the game produced his second RBI. Following RBI hits by Abel, Zak and Overbeck in the eighth, McLaughlin tallied his fourth hit and fourth RBI—both new career highs—with a two-run double to right center.
 
The New Lenox, Illinois native went 4-for-4 at the dish, adding a run to his impressive totals. Overbeck went 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs, while Zak scored thrice, smacked two hits and drove in a pair. Nadratowski finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. The only other multi-hit game of the evening came from Potts, who was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
 
Senior Adam Poel nabbed the win in relief of starter Tyler Lozen. Poel went 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Williams, freshman Mitch Ashcraft and senior Evan Nietfeldt combined for the final two innings of work.
 
The split takes GVSU's overall record to 22-13 and its GLIAC mark to 14-8.
 
This week's four-game series will conclude with another doubleheader on Saturday (April 18) afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. EDT. GVSU will honor its 11-man senior class between games.