ALLENDALE, Mich.—In games where runs are hard to come by, a team must hope that it's pitching staff is up to the challenge. The pitching staff was all that and more for the GVSU Baseball team in the first doubleheader of the GLIAC season on Saturday. The Lakers (11-7-1) earned a 4-3 win in nine innings in the first game, and shut down the Cardinals offense in the second game to win, 3-1. With just 11 totals runs between the two teams in the doubleheader, it was pitching that would carry the day.
 
In the first game, the Cardinals took a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, tagging Lakers starter Josh Griffith with three RBI singles. Griffith would rebound, however, tossing four more scoreless innings before leaving in the sixth inning with no decision. He pitched five full innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks.
 
After starting slowly, the Lakers offense got into gear in the third inning, as catcher Brody Andrews doubled to deep right field to score Johnny Nate, who had gotten on with a leadoff hit by pitch. Later, Andrews would score on a balk by Saginaw Valley's pitcher, cutting the Cardinal lead to one run after three full innings.
 
Grand Valley would equalize the game in the bottom of the fifth off of the speed of center fielder Alex Young. Young started the inning off with a leadoff single, and then swiped second base. The throw to second, on top of being late behind Young, was a high throw and sailed into the outfield. The error allowed Young to move to third base, and he scored on a Keith Browning sacrifice fly one batter later to tie the game at three apiece.
 
With the scored still tied at three apiece at the end of the seventh inning, the game went into extra innings, as the first game of every doubleheader is a seven inning game. In fact, it was the bottom of the ninth inning before the either team would score, and the action started with an Anthony Villar leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth inning. After pinch runner Zach Berry replaced Villar at second, Seth Johnson was hit by a pitch.  Johnny Nate hit into a fielder's choice, and Berry was forced out at third base, but a Brody Andrews singe would load the bases anyways with just one out in the inning. Alex Young then worked the count and was walked, giving him a walkoff RBI base on balls, and the Lakers the win.
 
Tim Tarter came on in relief of Griffith, pitching 1.1 innings, before ceding the mound to Matt Williams, who picked up the win after pitching 2.2 innings, walking one and striking out four.
 
In the second game, the Lakers would strike first in the third inning. Alex Young hit a leadoff double to get on base, and then stole third base. One batter later, Matt Williams then singled to right center to score Young easily and give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.
 
On the mound for the Lakers, junior Kyle Lawson (4-1) was working through yet another solid outing for himself, retiring the Cardinals without much issue. He nearly went the distance in the seven inning game, throwing six full innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits, while walking one and striking out two. He picked up his fourth win in his last four starts, and dropped his ERA over that span to 0.64.
 
In the fifth inning, the speedy Young would once again be the offensive catalyst for the Lakers, as he led off the inning with a bunt single, then promptly stole second base, his third swipe of the day. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Smith, and scored easily on a sacrifice fly by Keith Browning just a few moments later.
 
GVSU would add one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, answering the lone Cardinals run scored in the top of the inning to cut the Laker lead in half. Catcher Connor Glick hit a deep double to right center field, and scored just two pitches later on a double by left fielder Seth Johnson to make the score 3-1.
 
Closer Matt Williams came in at the top of the seventh for his second pitching appearance of the day, and got a foul out, a groundout and a strikeout in order to close out the game and give the Lakers the win while earning his fifth save in as many chances.
 
Alex Young had a day for the Lakers, collecting three hits, scoring three runs and stealing four bases. Connor Glick and Matt Williams also had three hits apiece, while Browning had two runs driven in.
 
GVSU will face the Cardinals again on Tuesday, as they play the remaining doubleheader in the series at SVSU Baseball Field in University Center, Michigan.