UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich.—It was a tale of two games for the Grand Valley State baseball team on Tuesday, as they dropped the opening game of the doubleheader 9-1 before winning the second game against the Cardinals, 4-1. Coupled with a pair of home victories against SVSU over the weekend, the Lakers (12-8-1, 3-1 GLIAC) win the series three games to one, and open GLIAC play with the same record.
In the first game, the Lakers scored first in the top of the second inning as
Seth Johnson doubled home
Anthony Villar. Following that, however, the wheels came off for GVSU, as the Cardinals scored four runs in the bottom of the second and added a pair in the third to take a commanding 6-1 lead in the game scheduled for seven innings of play. Saginaw Valley State would add three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game thoroughly out of reach and reach the final victory margin.
In the second game, the Lakers once again got staked out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, as
Alex Young singled to leadoff the inning, stole second, and came around to score on an RBI single from
Connor Glick. After three scoreless frames, GVSU added to it's lead off of three consecutive singles by
Josh Griffith,
Seth Johnson and
Alex Young, the latter being an RBI single to score Griffith.
In the eighth inning, Young would drive in Johnson for the third Laker run, and come around to score on a bases loaded walk to
Josh Smith to make the score 4-0. The Cardinals would add a run in the bottom of the eighth, but GVSU closer
Matt Williams came on in the ninth inning and closed the door to seal the win for GVSU.
Tim Tarter (3-1) earned the win on the mound, hurling seven strong innings of scoreless ball, scattering four hits and a walk while striking out four.
Troy Dykhuis and Williams each pitched an inning in relief, with the latter earning his sixth save of the season.
Young finished the game with four hits, two runs and two RBI's, as well as his ninth stolen base of the season. Johnson finished with a pair of hits and a pair of runs.
The Lakers will return to act on the road on Saturday, April 2
nd and Sunday, April 3
rd with a pair of doubleheaders against Ashland University.