CLERMONT, Fla. - The Grand Valley State softball team split a pair of contests today as they were defeated in the opening game 8-7 against Sioux Falls and won the nightcap 3-2 on a walk-off home run. The split moves GVSU to a 6-8 record heading into the last day of the NTC Spring Games. Grand Valley faced an agonizing defeat on a walk-off single from Sioux Falls, only to win in spectacular fashion against Lewis with a two out walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Lakers will be back in action tomorrow (3/11) on the last day of their spring trip and are pitted against Drury at 8:00 AM followed by Fairmont State at 10:30 AM. 

Game one - vs. Sioux Falls (L, 8-7)
The first game of the day for the Lakers started off with a bang, as each team plated three runs in the first inning alone. The Lakers got the scoring started in the top of the first as they managed to have their first two batters walked. Junior Kaylie Rhynard and freshman Kayla Plastiak executed a double steal that resulted in the Sioux Falls catcher throwing the ball into left field and giving a free pass for Rhynard to home, putting the Lakers up 1-0. After a Jenna Lenza single put runners on first and third, the Lakers recorded two straight outs before Kelsey LeTour lined a pitch into right field to score Plastiak and Lenza, upping the score to 3-0. 

The Cougars were able to answer with a three run first inning themselves, as they strung five singles together to plate the runs and tie the score up 3-3. 

The Lakers would strike again in the second inning courtesy of a one out double to center field by Jenna Lenza which scored Plastiak and put the Lakers at a 4-3 lead. GVSU held Sioux Falls to no runs in the bottom of the second before scoring another run in the third after a two out single by Rhynard that scored Rachel Terwilliger. Sioux Falls was able to put up three runs in the bottom of the third by gathering four hits in the inning to put them up 6-5. 

Neither team would score again until the bottom of the fifth inning where Sioux Falls tacked on another run to bring the score to 7-5. 

Entering the top of the seventh inning, the score was still 7-5 in favor of the Cougars. With one out senior Teagan Shomin singled to center field and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. After a Laker groundout, Kelsey Dominguez reached on an error by the Cougar shortstop which score Shomin to bring the score to 7-6. After a walk was issued to Rhynard, Plastiak blasted a double off the top of the fence in left field to score Rhynard and tie the game at 7's heading into the bottom of the seventh. 

After issuing a leadoff walk, senior Ellie Balbach struck out the next Cougar batter before giving up back to back singles which gave the Cougars a 8-7 victory. Lenza finished the game 4-5 with two doubles and an RBI. Rhynard went 1-3 with and RBI and two runs scored while Plastiak finished 1-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as well. 

Game two - vs. Lewis (W, 3-2)
After junior Courtney Reinhold shut down Lewis in the top of the first inning, the Lakers were able to take an early 1-0 lead courtesy back to back doubles to left center by Lenza and Balbach.

The score would stay 1-0 until the top of the third inning. The Flyers managed to get a runner to second base via an error, who was then sacrificed to third on a bunt. The Flyer runner on third got a little too aggressive and was back-picked by catcher Jessi Ramos which started a pickle and ended in the runner being called out at third base. With two outs the Flyers were hit by a pitch, which was followed by two singles to tie the score up at 1-1.

GVSU would strike again in the fourth inning as they were able to plate a run on a hit and an error. Shomin doubled to left center to score Vander Meer, who was pinch running for Balbach, who reached on an error by the shortstop. Lewis would tie the score up at 2-2 after a two hit, one error, one run, top of the sixth.

Reinhold was able to hold the Flyers to zero runs in the top of the seventh to keep the score tied. After recording the first two outs, the Flyer batter was able to reach on an error to put a runner of first with two out. Sarah DeMasi of Lewis looked like she would also reach on a error before the booted by by Schomin would end up in the hands of Lenza who happened to be standing on second base and record the final out of the inning.

It looked like the game was going to head into extra innings, as the first two Lakers up to bat grounded out and struck out, leaving Lenza up to bat with two outs. After watching a ball go past her, Lenza turned on the next pitch and hit a no doubter to left field to win the game for the Lakers by a score of 3-2. Lenza finished the game 2-4 with the game winning RBI and two runs scored. Earning the other two RBI's were Balbach (1-3) and Shomin (1-3). Reinhold earned the win which moved her to 2-3 on the season.