ALLENDALE, Mich.—The Grand Valley State baseball team won two very different games on Wednesday in a GLIAC doubleheader against in state opponent Northwood University. A complete game one hitter by senior Zach Anderson in the first game gave the Lakers a 3-0 victory in the first game, before a shootout in the second game was won by the Lakers, 9-7, thanks to a hot start by the Laker offense.
 
With the pair of wins, the Lakers improve to 16-10-1 on the season, and seize the top mark in the GLIAC North Division with a 7-3 conference record (5-1 division).
 
Anderson's stellar pitching performance was the highlight of the first game, as he became the most recent Laker pitcher to hurl a seven inning complete game one-hitter. That feat was previously marked by Patrick Kelly, who did so last season against Wayne State on 4/3/15. Anderson allowed just one hit and one walk over seven innings, while striking out eight and improving to 3-3 on the season. He needed just 86 pitches to accomplish the feat.
 
Backing up Anderson with run support in the first game was Alex Young, who singled down the right field line to score Matt Williams in the second inning, and doubled to drive in Josh Smith in the fourth for the second Laker run. Later in the fourth inning, Young was driven in to score the Laker's third run on a single by designated hitter Connor Glick. It was part of a 4-4 performance at the plate for Young in the first game.
 
In the second game, Northwood struck first, taking a 1-0 lead off of GVSU starter Sawyer Chambers. That lead didn't last long, however, as Glick once again delivered an RBI single, once again scoring Young, to tie the game up at 1-1.  In the next inning, GVSU would take it's first lead, as DH Jason Ribecky  singled to left center field to score Smith and Josh Griffith, putting GVSU ahead 3-1.
 
In the third inning, the back and forth continued, as the Timberwolves added a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball, briefly tying the game up at 3-3, only to see the Lakers explode for four runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-3.
 
Seth Johnson got the party started, driving in Williams with a single to left. Smith followed with an RBI single of his own to score Anthony Villar. Johnson came around to score on a fielder's choice that advanced Josh Griffith to third, and Griffith came in on a single to left field by Young. By the time it was over, the Lakers had score four runs on five hits, and took a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game.
 
Grand Valley would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Josh Griffith grounded out to second base, but in doing drove in Williams. Two batters later, shortstop Johnny Nate delivered an RBI single to right field to score Villar, who had reach on a Timberwolf error.
 
A four run inning for Northwood in the fifth would cut the lead to just 9-7 in Grand valley's favor, but Tim Tarter, Brett Nearing and Williams would combine to shut the door on Northwood from that point on, with Williams earning his ninth save of the season in the process, as Grand Valley State earned their second doubleheader sweep of the season. Tarter (4-1) earned the win on the mound, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.
 
Young led all Lakers with six hits, three runs batted in, two runs scored and two stolen bases. He also had 11 putouts combined in the two games form the center field position.
Smith also had six hits and two runs scored, and also drove in a run.
 
Connor Glick, Jason Ribecky and Johnny Nate each drove in a pair of runs in the games, while Williams had five hits and three runs scored.
 
The Lakers return to action with a pair of GLIAC doubleheaders at home this weekend against Walsh University.