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ALLENDALE, Mich.—Fresh off their first four game sweep of the season, the Grand Valley State baseball team will look to keep that momentum going as they prepare to host the Chargers of Hillsdale College for a weekend series in Alllendale. The teams will play a doubleheader on both Saturday and Sunday at GVSU Baseball Field in Allendale, Michigan.
 
Live stats can be found at the above link, along with game notes on the matchup. The games can be watched via a live stream by following the link above.
 
Last weekend, the Lakers were efficient in all facets of the game in sweeping the University of Findlay in a four game series. Grand Valley State took two low scoring games on Saturday, 2-1 and 4-1, before finding an offensive rhythm in Sunday's doubleheader, teeing off on the Oiler's pitching to the tune of 22 runs and 29 hits.
 
Alex Young led the way for the Lakers, finishing with five hits and five runs driven in. He knocked two extra base hits and was 4-4 in stolen base attempts. Four other Lakers (Connor Glick, Jason Ribecky, Johnny Nate and Joel Schipper) had four hits in the series as the Lakers averaged 11 hits per game as a team.
 
On the mound, the Lakers didn't give up much ground to the anemic Oiler's offense, surrendering just 12 earned runs through the four games, while racking up 25 strikeouts and allowing Findlay to bat just .208 as a team.  After pitching eight strong innings in the nightcap on Saturday, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six, start Kyle Lawson improved to 7-2 on the season, and is second in the GLIAC in wins this season among pitchers. Senior southpaw Tim Tarter benefited from a late scoring rally in Sunday's opener to win his sixth game of the season, good for third most in the conference.
 
This weekend's opponent, Hillsdale, will be a vastly different opponent for the Lakers than Findlay, as the Chargers are far and away the GLIAC's highest scoring offense. Besides leading in total runs score, Hillsdale is first in the conference in total hits (479), RBI (305), triples (17), home runs (50) and slugging percentage (.522). As if proven power wasn't enough, the Chargers also lived up to their namesake with speed on the base paths, as they lead the GLIAC with 64 swipes on the campaign.
 
The Chargers come into the matchup on a sizeable seven game win streak, having swept Saginaw Valley in a four game series last weekend, and taking a pair of victories over Northwood on Wednesday. At 28-14 overall, they possess the best record in the conference, but still trail the Lakers (24-12-1) in the North Division Standings, as GVSU maintains a slim lead with an 11-3 division record.
 
In the series with the Chargers, the Lakers will need to rely on strong pitching to limit the damage done by the potent Chargers offense. The Lakers regular starting rotation has a 3.85 ERA this season, and has racked up an 18-10 record this season. As a team, the Lakers have the lowest ERA in the conference, at 4.47, and have issued the least amount of walks of any team in the GLIAC. GVSU also excels at not surrendering the long ball, as they have surrendered the second fewest round trippers (15) in the conference. As a result, the Lakers are 18-5 this season when not allowing their opponent any home runs.The Laker pitching staff has done it's part this season in limiting opposing offenses and putting Grand Valley's offense in a position to win games as a result.
 
At seventh in the conference in runs scored, sixth in hits and fifth in batting average, the Lakers offensive numbers don't jump off the page, but timely scoring and hitting has been there when the Lakers have needed it, as they have a 9-4-1 record in games in which they score between three and five runs. The bullpen has also done well this season to not give up late leads, as the Lakers are 20-0 when leading after the sixth inning. Paramount to that late inning success has been the closer, Matt Williams, who is 13-14 in save chances this season with a 0.35 ERA in 19 appearances. The right hander has 39 strikeouts in 26.0 innings pitched this season, has allowed just six hits and has limited opponents to a .071 batting average against. His 13 saves this season tie Brad Zambron (2013) for the second most in a single season, and with 23 in his career, he moves past David Bowman (2006-09) for the third most career saves in a Laker uniform.
 
The weekend slate of games with Hillsdale marks the beginning of a 10 game home stand to end the regular season for the Lakers, with a doubleheader against Wayne State on Wednesday, and a pair of doubleheaders next weekend at home vs. Tiffin.