ALLENDALE, Mich.--  The Grand Valley State baseball team came away with a split in the first doubleheader of the weekend against Walsh University at home on Saturday, dropping a close first game 4-3 before routing the Cavaliers in the second game, 15-8.
 
The Lakers (17-11-1) got off to a slow start in the first game, yielding an early 2-0 lead to Walsh in the first inning while going hitless in the first three.
 
Grand Valley State would get on the board in the fourth inning of the seven inning game, as Alex Young singled to get on base, advanced to second on a balk and came around to score on a single by Matt Williams.
 
After Lakers starter Josh Griffith (1-3) sat down the Cavalier in order to open the fifth inning, the Lakers struck again. Josh Smith singled, then stole second and scored on an RBI  triple by Young one batter later. Young himself would easily trot home on a Jason Ribecky double to left center field, as the Lakers scored a pair of runs in the inning to take a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers struck back immediately, scoring a pair of runs to take back the lead, 4-3.  That margin would stand as the final, as the Lakers were unable to muster a run in the sixth or seventh innings.
 
Griffith took the loss on the mound, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and striking out four. Young finished with a pair of runs scored and a pair of hits to go along with an RBI, while Williams had two hits and an RBI.
 
In the second game, the Lakers again yielded a first inning run to the Cavaliers, but were quick to answer in the second inning.
 
After catcher Connor Glick reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a Walsh error, Seth Johnson belted a double to left field to score Glick and tie the game at 1-1. After Josh Smith reached, and the pair advanced to third and second, respectively, shortsop Johnny Nate walked to load the bases for Young. Young delivered with an RBI double up the middle to score both Smith and Johnson, giving the Lakers a 3-1 lead after two innings.
 
Walsh would score one run in the third, but the Lakers would match that run in the bottom of the inning, as Glick delivered an RBI single to drive home Anthony Villar, who had reached on an error, and make the score 4-2.
 
Walsh would again score in the top of the inning to cut the lead to 4-3, but the Lakers responded in a big way, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 7-3. With Young on second base and Smith on second, Jason Ribecky delivered an RBI triple down the right field line to score both runners and give GVSU the 6-3 lead. Williams then hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score Ribecky for the 7-3 lead.
 
After a scoreless fifth for the Cavaliers, the Lakers went back on the offensive, as Glick walked and advanced to third on a Johnson double. Smith singled to left field to score Glick., and Johnson came around to score when Johnny Nate reached on a fielder's choice. Young then singled home Nate, who has advanced to second on a throwing error, and was in turn singled home by Ribecky after advancing to second on yet another Walsh throwing error.
 
The Cavaliers added a run in the sixth inning to make the score 11-4, but the Lakers answered back in the bottom of the seventh, as Johnson hit his third double of the game to score Glick, who had doubled with two outs in the inning.
 
The final scoring for the Lakers would come off the bat of Ribecky, who homered with Young and Nate on base to give the Lakers a 15-4 advantage in the game. The big fly was his second of the season, and gave him six RBI's in the game.
 
Walsh would add three more runs before the final out was recorded, but the outcome was never in doubt, and the Lakers reached double digits run for the first time since March 14^th, a 17-9 defeat of Rockhurst.
 
Kyle Lawson (6-2) earned the win on the mound, pitching seven strong innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out four batters. Michael Battistelli pitched two innings for the Lakers in relief of Lawson.
 
Ribecky finished with six runs batted in, three hits and two runs scored for GVSU, while Young had three hits, three RBI's and three runs scored. Glick had two hits, three runs scored and a run driven in, while Johnson had three hits, all doubles, two runs driven in and scored twice.
 
The Lakers will play the second doubleheader against Walsh on Sunday, April 17^th at GVSU Baseball Field in Allendale, Mich. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.