Xenia, Ohio – Slow starts were the theme of the Grand Valley State baseball team's GLIAC Tournament, until Sunday (May 10), when it opened the championship game with a bang and poured on run after run in a 15-6 victory over Ashland.
 
With the win, the No. 13 Lakers (34-16, 21-11 GLIAC) captured their second consecutive, and 10^th overall, GLIAC Tournament title. They also secured the conference's automatic berth for the NCAA Midwest Regional, which will mark the program's 14^th straight NCAA Tournament appearance, extending the second-longest active streak in Division II history.
 
Opposite of its first three GLIAC Tournament games, GVSU got on the scoreboard first. None other than sophomore utility player Matt Williams, the GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, delivered the momentous blast that set the tone for what was to come.
 
After the Eagles recorded the first two outs in the opening frame, redshirt senior Kevin Zak reached via hit by pitch. A single to left from senior outfielder Jamie Potts extended the rally, and senior third baseman Aaron Overbeck drew a walk to load the bases.
 
Just as he did on Saturday (May 9) with two outs and the bases full, Williams belted a grand slam over the left field fence.
 
Although Ashland got a run back in the bottom half of the first, Williams would extend the lead in the third. Following a Zak single and Overbeck being hit by a pitch, the Geneva, Illinois native lined a one-out single into center field, plating a run and adding to his massive tournament RBI and hit totals.
 
A string of three consecutive one-out singles allowed the Eagles to answer with a run in the third, but GVSU would post its second four-spot of the afternoon in its next at bat.
 
Freshman catcher Connor Glick led off the fourth with a sharply-hit ball down to third, resulting in a fielding error. Next, a perfect bunt down toward third netted senior outfielder Mike Nadratowski a bunt single. Once senior second baseman Jesse Abel moved them into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Zak laced a double into right center, scoring both runners. Immediately after a Potts walk, Overbeck chopped a single up the middle to scratch another run across.
 
With an RBI single through the left side in the ensuing at bat, Williams became the first Laker to record 11 hits in four GLIAC Tournament games. His four-game RBI total of 14 was also four more than any GVSU player ever recorded in the league's postseason event.
 
Ashland managed to total three runs in the fifth and sixth, though, it still came out a run behind, as the Lakers scored twice in both those frames to make it 13-5.
 
Potts delivered a two-RBI single for the club's runs in the fifth, while Glick's sacrifice fly and Nadratowski's single to center produced runs.
 
In the seventh, a bases-loaded walk by junior first baseman Josh Griffith brought the club's 14^th run across, which was its 45^th of the tournament—tied with the 2014 club for the most in school history. GVSU broke the record with a 46^th run on Potts' RBI fielder's choice in the eighth. Those runs were accumulated on 56 hits, which were the program's third-most in a tournament, six shy of the record held by the 2012 and 2013 teams that played five games in the league's postseason event.
 
Five Lakers were named to the All-GLIAC Tournament Team upon the conclusion of the title game.
 
Nadratowsi went nine for 20 with nine runs, three RBIs, two walks, a double and a home run to earn the honor for the third time in his career. Zak, now a four-time All-GLIAC Tournament team honoree, was nine for 16 with eight runs, 10 RBIs, four walks, two doubles and a triple. As the MVP, Williams made the team with an 11-for-20, five-run, 14-RBI stat line that featured a double, two home runs and a stolen base. Potts made the team for a third time as well, as he went six for 16 with four runs, six RBIs and four walks.
 
For his four-hit performance in GVSU's 6-1 win over Ohio Dominican on Friday (May 8), junior starting pitcher Zach Anderson was selected to the team, too.

The Lakers will learn their opponent and destination via the NCAA Selection Show tonight at 10 p.m. EDT. To watch the show live, please click here.