In one of the coldest doubleheaders in recent memory, the Grand Valley State softball team braved the weather with a hot offense, as the Lakers recorded 19 runs on 24 hits in a two-game home sweep of Northwood on Thursday (Apr. 7). GVSU took a wild game one by a 12-6 final before sweeping the twinbill with a 7-2 win in the nightcap.

After defeating Ferris State in a pair of one-run contests in Tuesday's home opener, the Lakers continued their strong play at home two days later. Grand Valley State is now 22-6 overall and 7-3 in GLIAC play, while Northwood falls to 12-14 on the season and 3-7 in league action.

The temperatures never got higher than the mid-30's on Thursday and the winds were blustery and constant, but GVSU managed to smack out a dozen base hits in each game. In game one, eight of the nine Laker starters recorded at least one hit; game two saw five Grand Valley State players record two or more hits. 

Senior McKenze Supernaw's first inning RBI double opened the scoring and was the first of 19 runs for the Lakers. After falling behind 2-1 in the second inning, the Lakers scored twice in the bottom half of the inning on run-scoring singles from sophomore Kaylie Rhynard and junior Jenna Lenza.

Northwood answered with two more runs in the third inning to regain a 4-3 lead. The score stayed that way until the home half of the fifth inning, when freshman Shannon Flaherty tripled down the left field line, scoring Rhynard, who reached on a bunt single. Lenza then brought Flaherty in on a sacrifice fly for a 5-4 Laker advantage.

The lead jumped to 7-4 in the fifth inning on a two-run homer to right field from sophomore Teagan Shomin, her second roundtripper of the season. After Northwood cut the deficit to 7-6 with two runs in the sixth inning, GVSU blew the game open with a five-run sixth.

Junior Janae Langs notched a two-run single during the five-run inning, while junior Kelsey Dominguez, Shomin, and Flaherty all drove in one run apiece.

Senior Sara Andrasik moved to 8-2, as the righty pitched 4.2 innings in relief, logging 117 pitches. She allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits, while striking out four. Andrasik came in for sophomore Courtney Reinhold, who started the game and allowed four runs in 2.1 innings.

Shomin posted the first of her two interesting statlines on Thursday. She went 3-for-4 with a homer, three runs, and three RBI. Supernaw was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Rhynard scored twice and went 2-for-4. Lenza, Flaherty, and Langs all recorded two RBI, while Lenza crossed home plate twice.

Game two saw freshman Allison Lipovsky retire the first seven batters she faced before allowing a one-out single in the third inning. At the time, GVSU was ahead 1-0. In the top of the fourth, Rhynard notched a clutch two-run double to the left field fence, scoring Dominguez and Shomin for a 3-0 cushion.

The lead grew to 5-0 in the fifth inning, as junior Ellie Balbach picked up her second RBI of the contest on a run-scoring single to center field, as Lenza (a leadoff double) raced in to score. Northwood finally got to Lipovsky in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs for a 5-2 ballgame.

GVSU responded in the sixth with two more runs - on a Lenza sacrifice fly and Flaherty also came home on a wild pitch. 

Lipovsky left the bases loaded in the sixth inning and struck out the final batter of the ballgame. The contest was called after six innings due to darkness.

Five Lakers had two or more hits, led by Lenza and Balbach with three hits apiece. Lenza was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a run, and a ribbie, while Balbach was 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBI. Rhynard again went 2-for-4, drove in two runs, doubled, and stole a base in each game. Flaherty was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Dominguez was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

After a strong first game offensively, Shomin had a strange statline in game two. Officially, she was 0-for-0 with four walks and a run scored. She is the first Laker since the 2000 season to walk four times in a game. GVSU Hall of Famer Kim Biskup walked four times in a game twice that season, both games came against Findlay; the first on Apr. 29 and also on May 5.

Lipovsky logged 135 pitches in game two, but scattered two runs (one earned) on just four hits. She walked six, but struck out five Timberwolves. Lipovsky is a perfect 7-0 during her rookie campaign.

GVSU stays at home this weekend for doubleheaders against Findlay (Saturday, 1:00 p.m.) and Hillsdale (Sunday, noon start).