RussMatt Invitational:  Game Notes l Live Stats

ORLANDO, Fla.—Off to their best start to a season since the 2009 campaign, the ninth-ranked Grand Valley State baseball team will embark on their annual trip to the RussMatt Invitational beginning March 7^th. The Lakers will play 10 games in seven days against eight opponents during the tournament in Orlando, Florida.
 
The Lakers opened the season 4-0 after winning doubleheaders against Trevecca Nazarene and Alderson-Broaddus last weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. Opening the season with a 5-2 win against Trevecca, the Lakers then doubled down in the second game and defeated the Trojans 10-4.  On Saturday, the Lakers downed Alderson-Broaddus 6-4 in the first game and were well on the way to a win in the second game, with a 6-0 lead through five innings. In the top of the sixth inning, however, the Battlers tagged GVSU for nine runs and took a 9-6 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, GVSU would score three runs to tie the game up at nine runs apiece, and would hold the Battlers off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. The Battlers then walked in Alex Young with the bases loaded to give Grand Valley State the walk-off victory on an RBI walk.
 
Now the Lakers will look to keep that momentum going during the RussMatt, where they had mixed results last season. The grueling schedule will test the depth of the Lakers roster over the course of the week and introduce them to new opponents. Opening with a familiar opponent in Minnesota State Mankato, the Lakers will have a chance to avenge a 12-2 defeat to the Mavericks last season in Florida, before moving on to face Saint Joseph's College. GVSU will then face Minnesota-Duluth on March 8^th in a doubleheader, followed by solo games against Notre Dame College and Lewis on March 9^th and 10^th, respectively.
 
After a day off, the Lakers will jump right back into the fray with a doubleheader against Seton Hill on March 12^th. Solo games against West Chester and Pace on March 13^th and 14^th, respectively, will close out the RussMatt trip.
 
Fans can follow along with the RussMatt contests via the GVSUBaseball twitter page, as well as via live stats which will be displayed on the link at the beginning of this preview.