Saturday (Apr. 8th)
vs. Ohio Dominican (13-10 overall, 4-4 GLIAC)
1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. (estimated)
Live Stats l  Game Notes

Sunday (Apr. 9th)
vs. Ohio Dominican (13-10 overall, 4-4 GLIAC)
1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. (estimated)
Live Stats l  Game Notes l ESPN3 Watch Link 
 
ALLENDALE, Mich.-- The Grand Valley State baseball team returns to action this weekend with doubleheaders against Ohio Dominican on Saturday and Sunday, as they continue a 10-game home stand at GVSU Baseball Field. GVSU (15-11, 3-4 GLIAC) split a series with Tiffin in Allendale last weekend, and is in serious need of a strong showing against the Panthers (13-10, 4-4 GLIAC) to remain competitive in conference play. Ohio Dominican closed out March with a sweep of Saginaw Valley State at home, but dropped a midweek doubleheader against Wayne State on Wednesday. 

Sunday's doubleheader will be shown on ESPN3, with play-ny-play man Tom Cleary calling all the action at GVSU Baseball Field. 

GVSU's split with Tiffin was marked by two major themes, as the Lakers were hitting the ball with power on offense but keeping Tiffin in the games with 15 errors and other mental mistakes over the weekend. The Dragon earned just 15 of the 23 runs they scored in the four-game series, and hit just .198 as a team against the Lakers. The theme was a recurring one for Grand Valley State, as the team is fourth in the conference in total errors, with 50, and has given up 37 unearned runs this season as a result. 

On offense, the Lakers had no trouble torching the Dragons pitching, batting more than 30 points (.331) above their season average in the four-game series and belting eight home runs, including scoring all nine runs via big fly in a 9-5 win over Tiffin on Sunday. The Lakers are now second in the conference in home runs (24) and doubles (61), and are on pace to surpass last season's totals in each handily. Catcher/designated hitter Brody Andrews continues to provide a big bat in the lineup, taking the team lead with five home runs and blasting a grand slam in the 9-5 victory over Tiffin on Saunday, while other big hitting contributors include Austin LaDoux, Seth Johnson, Johnny Nate and Connor Glick. Those five hitters all have at least three home runs for the Lakers, while Anthony Villar, Alex Young and Josh Smith have each belted a pair of round-trippers. 

The Laker pitching staff has been solid at times and turbulent at others this season, but posts a respectable 4.63 team ERA and .272 batting-average-against while leading the GLIAC and ranking 20th nationally in K-BB ratio (2.91). The three-man rotation of Jake Mason, Mitch Ashcraft and Ryan Arnold have each had their strong moments, but have not found those moments together, as the Lakers have been somewhat inconsistent on the mound. The talet is there, however, and the bullpen has also been a strength as of late, as the trio of Evan Koning, Troy Dykhuis and Tate Brawley has given up just six earned runs in 33.1 combined innings of relief and struck out 27 batters between them. Closer Matt Williams has been weighed down by two blown saves this season, but is still 5-7 in save chances and has posted a 20/3 strikeout to walk ratio. 

Ohio Dominican is hitting slightly better than GVSU (.309-.302) this season, but the teams are pretty even in runs and hits per game. The real difference between the two comes in the power numbers, as the Lakers have the obvious edge in power. The Panthers have not served up many home runs this season, however, surrendering a GLIAC-best nine home runs in 23 games and posting a 4.92 ERA. At the plate, the Panthers have gotten good productions from infielder Justin Childers (.417 BA, 35 hits, 25 RBI's), catcher Colin Kaucher (.412 BA, 35 hits, 21 RBI) and infielder Tony Evans (.312, 29 hits, 15 RBI). 

Last season, the Lakers and the Panthers battled to a 4-4 tie in Winter Haven, Florida during the 2016 RussMatt Invitational, a 13-inning affair that ended up having to be called due to a lack of lighting. The game was never finished, resulting in the lone tie on the Laker's record last season.