Grand Valley State continued to roll on Friday afternoon (Apr. 28) with an eighth consecutive doubleheader sweep, defeating visiting Ferris State by scores of 3-1 and 4-1 in Allendale. GVSU again used strong pitching and some timely offense to knock off the Bulldogs and finish the regular season undefeated at home.

With the win, the Lakers extended the third-longest winning streak in program history to 17 consecutive victories. Grand Valley State is now 29-15 overall and 15-5 in GLIAC play, sitting one game ahead of Saginaw Valley State for first place in the conference standings. The Lakers play at SVSU on Saturday (Apr. 29) at 4:00 p.m. in the regular season finale for both teams.

Ferris State ends the regular season at 18-22 overall and 11-11 in conference play.

GVSU's 17 straight wins mark the third-longest winning streak in program history behind the 30-game win streak in 2003 and a 21-game stretch in 1999. The Lakers also finished the regular season 14-0 at home, marking the fifth unbeaten home season in school history - but setting a new record for most wins at home without a loss. The 1973 (5-0), 1974 (6-0), 1987 (12-0), and 2000 (6-0) Laker teams were also undefeated at home.

Game One (W, 3-1)

The Lakers opened the scoring in the first inning, as senior Janae Langs led off with a double down the left field line. She was able to score a few batters later with the aid of a pair of FSU errors.

Grand Valley State righthander Allison Lipovsky - the four-time consecutive GLIAC Pitcher of the Week - had an outstanding start, going 1-2-3 in the first three innings with seven strikeouts. Lipovsky struck out the side in the third inning and retired the final batter in each of the first four innings by a swinging strikeout. She retired the first 10 batters before a one-out walk in the fourth frame.

In the fifth, Langs again led off with a double down the left field line in nearly the exact same location as her previous two-bagger. She moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt and then scored again on a Ferris State error to make it 2-0. Senior Jenna Lenza reached on a fielder's choice on the play in which Langs scored, then also came around to score later in the frame on another Bulldog error. FSU had three errors in the inning alone and totaled six for the game.

Lipovsky did not allow a hit until a one-out single in the fifth inning, but struck out a pair of batters in the sixth. The Bulldogs were able to tack on a run against the righty in the seventh inning and load the bases with one out, but Lipovsky notched a swinging strikeout and a groundout to end the threat and preserve the victory.

Now 13-3 overall, Lipovsky recorded 13 strikeouts - her seventh consecutive game of double-digit K's. She gave up one run on four hits in the complete game victory, while walking three batters in her 126-pitch effort.

The Lakers outhit Ferris State, 6-4. Langs and junior catcher Jessica Ramos were each 2-for-3, with Langs scoring two of the team's three runs. Due to the Bulldog errors, GVSU did not have an RBI on either of its three runs.

Game Two (W, 4-1)

GVSU collected five hits in the opening two innings, but were unable to score in either frame. The Lakers broke through in the third inning. Lenza drilled the first pitch she saw in the third to dead center field and over the fence for her fifth home run of the year. It was her 18th career homer and moves her into ninth place in GVSU career history in that category. 

Freshman Kelcie LaTour followed with a single to left field and pinch runner Ali Vander Meer entered the game for LaTour. She raced around to score on a double to left field from sophomore Shannon Flaherty, upping the lead to 2-0. Similar to the Laker runs in game one, Flaherty scored on a Bulldog error to make the score 3-0.

Langs led off the fourth inning with an infield single, then stole second base. Junior Teagan Shomin reached on a perfect bunt single that fell just in front of the FSU catcher, moving Langs to third base. Lenza's flyball to right field was deep enough to score Langs on the sacrifice fly for a 4-0 advantage.

Junior Courtney Reinhold pitched into the fourth inning before being lifted for junior Allie Grys, who used a flyout and strikeout to end the frame.

In the fifth inning, the Bulldogs got to Grys with three consecutive singles, loading the bases with no outs. A groundball forced an out at home for the first out. The next batter - Sam Bates - hit a flyball to left field that was caught by GVSU's Kelsey Dominguez for the second out. She threw back to third base behind the FSU runner and doubled the runner off, as Shomin stepped on the bag for the huge inning-ending double play.

Ferris State used a solo homer in the sixth inning to make the score, 4-1. 

In the top of the seventh inning, Lenza hit another line drive to dead center field and cruised into second base for the double in what is likely her final home at-bat. The two-bagger gave Lenza 23 doubles this season, which broke a tie with former Laker Katie Martin for not only the GVSU single-season record, but also the GLIAC all-time single-season record. Lenza is second in all of Division II this year with her 23 two-baggers.

Grys worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning, with Lenza recording all three outs on two lineouts and a groundout.

Earning the victory, Grys is now 7-1 on the year. She allowed one run on four hits in 3.2 innings of relief. Reinhold logged 3.1 innings in the circle and gave up three hits. 

The Lakers notched a 12-7 edge in hits in game two. Lenza was 3-for-3 with a double, homer, and two RBI. Langs and LaTour both went 2-for-4 in the nightcap.