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Xenia, Ohio -- The Grand Valley State baseball team will begin its pursuit of a second consecutive GLIAC Tournament title with a rematch against Malone on Thursday (May 7) morning. The second-seeded Lakers, who posted a 21-11 mark in conference play and won the GLIAC North Division crown, have won nine of the 12 GLIAC Tournaments, and carries a 31-8 all-time record in the league's postseason event.

GVSU is ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Midwest Regional rankings, making this weekend quite important for its postseason aspirations.

The No. 13 Lakers will face the fifth-seeded Pioneers at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Last weekend, the two teams split a four-game set in Canton, Ohio.

Beyond that, GVSU will look to outlast the other five qualifiers--Ashland, Northwood, Ohio Dominican and Wayne State--in the double-elimination tournament. The club is a combined 281-142-1 (.664) against the GLIAC Tournament field.

Slap Bunts
-GVSU hit .365, slugged .569 and reached base at a .462 clip in last year's GLIAC Tournament

-GVSU's pitching staff posted a 1.50 earned run average in last weekend's series at Malone

Record Watch
Redshirt senior shortstop Kevin Zak heads into the GLIAC Tournament with 48 career doubles, a figure that ranks second in program history. Zak is three doubles away from tying Casey Robrahn's ('09) school record.

Walking All Over Who?
Redshirt junior starting pitcher Patrick Kelly did not allow a walk for 42 1/3 consecutive innings, a streak he accumulated over the course of six starts between March 28-May 2. Kelly ranks second among Division II pitchers in walks per nine innings pitched (0.66) this season.

No Strikeouts Here
Senior outfielder Jamie Potts has been one of the toughest Division II hitters to strike out this year. The Ravenna, Michigan native has fanned a mere eight times in 172 at bats, or a strikeout once every 21.5 at bats, which ranks 16th in Division II. Potts has struck out once in the last 24 games.

The Magic Numbers: Five, Three
When the Lakers score at least five runs in a game this season, they are 26-5. In contests when GVSU limits an opponent to three runs or less, it carries an 18-2 record.

Drawing First Blood
When the Lakers score first, they are 23-6. Additionally, when GVSU scores in the first inning, it is 21-3 this season, and it is 18-3 when leading after the opening frame.

Doubling Down
GVSU has 100 doubles this season, becoming the seventh club since 2003 to reach the century mark in that category. Of those seven Laker teams that hit at least 100 doubles, only the 2004 and 2009 clubs managed to smack more than 108. Among Division II clubs, GVSU ranks tied for 26th with 2.20 doubles per game.