Hillsdale, Mich. – By sweeping its second consecutive conference doubleheader, the Grand Valley State baseball team is just one win away from clinching the GLIAC North Division title. The No. 14 Lakers, who have won five consecutive games for the first time all season, topped Hillsdale 11-3 and 11-10 on Saturday (April 25) to improve to 26-13 overall, 18-8 in league games and 13-5 in divisional contests.
 
Another highlight of the sweep: redshirt senior shortstop Kevin Zak broke former Laker Casey Robrahn's ('09) school and GLIAC career hit records. The Novi, Michigan native broke the record with a single, his 284^th collegiate hit, in the fourth inning of game two. Moreover, by starting game one, Zak broke Giancarlo Brugnoni's school record for career starts. The starting nod was Zak's 205^th in his four seasons as a Laker.
 
In the opener, GVSU built a nine-run lead in the first two innings, taking a significant amount of pressure off redshirt junior starting pitcher Patrick Kelly.
 
After senior second baseman Jesse Abel was hit by a pitch with one out in the first, Zak tripled and Potts doubled to make it 2-0. Senior designated hitter Aaron Overbeck was hit by a pitch in the ensuing at bat, leading to an RBI single by junior outfielder Jason Ribecky. A two-out walk by junior first baseman Josh Griffith kept things alive for senior third baseman Mitchell Kozlowski, who singled to drive in the fourth and fifth runs of the frame.
 
GVSU plated three more in the second. Abel led things off with a single, and Zak made it 6-0 on an RBI double to left field. Consecutive two-out walks by Overbeck and Ribecky loaded the bases. A pair of Hillsdale errors, one on throw and another on a chopper to the shortstop, brought two more runs across.
 
A Charger two-run homer in the bottom half was the only scoring until the sixth, when the Lakers got RBIs from Ribecky and junior catcher John McLaughlin via single and a double, respectively.
 
Hillsdale added one in the seventh, but it did not deter Kelly from hurling his fourth consecutive 7-inning complete game. The three-time GLIAC North Pitcher of the Week also extended his streak of consecutive innings without a walk to 38. Kelly's victorious six-hit, three-run outing elevated his record to 6-1.
 
Potts and Zak both went 2-for-4 with two runs apiece combined for three RBIs, while Ribecky finished 2-for-3 with three runs, a pair of RBIs and a walk. Griffith, Kozlowski and McLaughlin tallied two RBIs as well.
 
In the nightcap, the Lakers fell behind 3-0, allowing a run in each of the first three innings. Things turned in the top of the fourth, as GVSU posted a five-spot to take the lead.
 
Abel and Zak began the rally with a walk and single. Next, Potts plated a run with a double to right, and Overbeck brought Zak in with a sacrifice fly to right. Once Potts moved to third on a passed ball, Ribecky walked, eventually stealing second, which led to a fielding error and allowed Potts to score. One pitch later, Griffith smacked a two-run homer to make it 5-3.
 
Hillsdale answered with a run in the fourth and took the lead with three more in the fifth.
 
GVSU rallied with three runs of its own in the seventh. Singles by freshman catcher Connor Glick and Abel put two aboard for Zak, who laced an RBI single to right. Having moved to third on Zak's single, Abel easily scored on a wild pitch during Potts' at bat. After working the count full, Potts put the Lakers back in front 8-7 with an RBI single up the middle.
 
Singles by senior outfielder Mike Nadratowski and Abel gave GVSU a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. But the Lakers needed all of them, as Hillsdale tied the game in the bottom half of the frame.
 
GVSU wasted no time manufacturing a run in the ninth, though. A leadoff single by Potts and sacrifice bunt by Overbeck brought Ribecky to the dish. The Muskegon, Michigan native shot a single into right center, driving in what would be the winning run.
 
Sophomore closer Matt Williams allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, but retired the next three hitters in order to pick up the win, getting to 3-2 on the year.
 
Senior reliever Kevin Hallberg tallied four strikeouts and yielded just two hits in 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Williams tossed the final 1 1/3 after senior reliever Adam Poel surrendered three unearned runs in 2/3 of an inning.
 
Potts matched his career high for hits with a 4-for-5 outing. The Ravenna, Michigan product also tallied a pair of runs and RBIs. Abel, Glick and Zak each notched a pair of hits.
 
The Lakers will look to wrap up their division Sunday (April 26) afternoon against the Chargers. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.