ALLENDALE, Mich.— Despite a power surge in the second day of their series with Tiffin, the Lakers had to settle for a split in Sunday's doubleheader, which evened the weekend series at 2-2. The 8-3 loss in the second game was proceeded by a 9-5 victory in the opener, during which the Lakers scored all nine runs via home runs in a dominant display of power.
With the split, the Lakers now sit at 15-11 on the season, and drop to 3-5 in GLIAC play, and will continue a ten-game home stand this upcoming weekend with a series against Ohio Dominican.
The opening game of Sunday's doubleheader saw the Lakers being their own worst enemy for the opening salvos of the game, spotting Tiffin a 2-0 lead via walks and errors. In fact, the Dragons didn't notch their first hit of the game until the fourth inning, and would notch just two in the contest total.
Starter
Mitch Ashcraft finally got some support in the third inning, as second baseman
Josh Smith smacked his second home run of the season over the left field fence with two outs to cut the Dragon lead to 2-1.
Tiffin would score a run (unearned) in the fourth frame to take a brief 3-1 lead, only to see
Anthony Villar homer to left center field to plate himself and
Brody Andrews and tie the game up at 3-3 going into the fifth inning.
The Dragons would retaliate with two runs in the top of the fifth off of an RBI single and a wild pitch, taking a 5-3 lead. After changing pitchers, the Dragons yielded back-to-back walks to
Johnny Nate and
Connor Glick to leadoff the bottom of the frame, and saw
Seth Johnson get aboard on a HBP shortly there after. With the bases loaded, designated hitter
Brody Andrews lifted a full count pitch over the wall in right center field for a grand slam, putting GVSU up for good, 7-5.
First baseman
Austin LaDoux added a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the nail in the coffin for Tiffin in game one. Ashcraft got a no decision in the start, pitching 4.2 innings and surrendering five runs (two earned) on one hit and five walks.
Matt Williams (1-2) earned the win in relief, pitching 1.1 innings and striking out two.
Evan Koning added a scoreless seventh, including making a nice play on a double play ball in the seventh inning.
Andrews led the Lakers with a pair of hits, a pair of runs and four RBI. Villar had a pair of hits and drove in a pair, while LaDoux notched a hit and drove in two.
Game two saw the Lakers once again spot the visitors an early lead, this time a three-spot in the second inning. A pair of errors were the catalyst for the runs, and were two of five errors GVSU would have in the game.
After a slow start to the game offensively, things looked like they might be looking up for the Lakers in the bottom of the fourth, as LaDoux doubled down the left field line and was plated on a home run to right field by Johnson immediately thereafter. The no-doubter to right field cut the Tiffin lead to 3-2, but the Dragons added three runs in the fifth to create some distance.
A late tally in the eighth off an RBI single from Johnson cut the lead to 6-3 and gave some glimmer of hope for a comeback, but Tiffin added a pair in the top of the ninth to put the game away, 8-3.
Noah Lamboley (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season, as he gave up six runs (four earned) in four innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.
Tate Brawley pitching five innings in relief, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out two.
Johnson led the team with two hits and three RBI, while LaDoux and
Zach Berry each had a pair of hits in the loss.
