Live Stats | Game Notes

Canton, Ohio -- With its eyes on a fifth consecutive GLIAC regular season championship, the Grand Valley State baseball team heads to Malone, where it will wrap up its 32-game conference slate with a pair of doubleheaders. The No. 13 Lakers, who are ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Midwest Regional rankings, enter the final weekend of league play tied with Ashland for first place in the overall GLIAC standings. Whichever team emerges with the most wins from its respective four-game set will claim the top seed for the GLIAC Tournament.

GVSU is 12-3 in its last 15 games, which has been enough to climb from No. 6 to No. 5 in the regional rankings, and to clinch the GLIAC North Division title. The Lakers need to finish inside the top six in order to make their 14th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Saturday's (May 2) doubleheader is slated for a 1 p.m. EDT start, while Sunday's (May 3) doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. EDT.

Stopping The Pioneers
Entering this weekend, the Lakers carry a 6-1 all-time record against Malone. GVSU swept last season's three-game set, battling to a pair of one-run wins and a 6-4 victory in the finale.

A Most Reliable Hitman
Redshirt senior shortstop Kevin Zak broke Casey Robrahn's ('09) school and GLIAC records with his third hit, the 284th of his career, in GVSU's first doubleheader at Hillsdale last Saturday. The Novi, Michigan native's 289 hits lead all active NCAA players. Zak also made his 205th career start in game one of the doubleheader, usurping Giancarlo Brugnoni ('14) for the most in program history.

Moving On Up
Senior outfielder Mike Nadratowski scored four runs in GVSU's last five games, surpassing Giancarlo Brugnoni ('14) for the second-most by a Laker (175). Nadratowski also moved up to second in career at bats (741) and games started (204), and to fifth in games played (202) in the school's career record book. Senior outfielder Jamie Potts jumped to fifth in career doubles (44), eighth in hits (232) and ninth in total bases (316) as well.

Walking All Over Who?
Redshirt junior starting pitcher Patrick Kelly has not issued a walk in his last 38 innings of work. Kelly currently holds GVSU's career record for fewest walks allowed per nine innings pitched (1.00).

Game Of Steals
In its last nine games, GVSU is 20 for 20 stealing bases. Prior to this nine-game stretch, the Lakers were just 22 for 38 (57.9 percent) on the year.

For Starters, Seven Innings Is Enough
When Laker starting pitchers throw at least seven innings, the team is 11-0. Patrick Kelly tossed his fourth straight 7-inning complete game last Saturday (April 25) at Hillsdale, becoming the first GVSU pitcher since Jeff Sinicki (2006) to hurl four 7-inning complete games in as many starts. Redshirt freshman starter Tyler Lozen also went seven innings into his start at Hillsdale, nabbing the first win of his career in the process.

Saving The Day
Sophomore closer Matt Williams picked up his ninth save of the season--which leads all GLIAC pitchers--at Lewis on Tuesday (April 28).