Saturday (Apr. 8)
vs. Findlay (16-13 overall, 6-2 GLIAC)
1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Live Stats
 
Sunday (Apr. 9)
vs. Tiffin (14-15 overall, 1-3 GLIAC)
12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Live Stats
 
Grand Valley State went 4-2 last week with its only losses coming by one run apiece and the Lakers are hoping to carry that momentum into this weekend's home doubleheaders in Allendale. On Saturday (Apr. 8), GVSU hosts Findlay at 1:00 p.m., while the Lakers will match up with Tiffin at noon on Sunday (Apr. 9).
 
Six of Grand Valley State's final nine doubleheaders in the regular season will be played in Allendale, where the Lakers have played just once so far in 2017. That outing was last Tuesday (Mar. 28) when GVSU tossed consecutive shutouts against non-conference opponent Lewis, blanking the Flyers 1-0 and 8-0. That prepared the Lakers for a tough weekend stretch on the road at Hillsdale and #18 Wayne State, with Grand Valley State coming away with a pair of splits. Overall, GVSU is 13-15 overall and 3-5 in GLIAC play.
 
The Laker offense got going in the opener at Hillsdale last Saturday (Apr. 1), notching a season-high 17 hits and recording all eight runs on six RBI singles in the 8-2 win. Senior Jenna Lenza led the offensive brigade with a 4-for-4 effort, but fellow seniors Janae Langs and Ellie Balbach - along with junior Teagan Shomin, sophomore Shannon Flaherty, and freshman Kelcie LaTour - all added two hits apiece. Shomin, Blabach, Flaherty, and LaTour delivered all eight of the team's RBI in the victory.
 
GVSU was unable to lock down leads of 2-0 and 3-2 in the nightcap before Hillsdale tallied three runs in the sixth inning to win 5-4. While the split would have been made sweeter had the Lakers won both contests, Grand Valley State turned its attention towards conference rival Wayne State on Sunday in Detroit.
 
The last time the Lakers visited the Motor City was last May, when GVSU shocked the favored Warriors in the best-of-three series Midwest Super Regional Tournament and advanced to the College World Series in Denver. With both teams bringing back a large number of returners from last season's squads, it was no surprise Grand Valley State and Wayne State were picked to finish first and second, respectively, in the GLIAC Coaches Preseason Poll, with only one point separating last year's regional finalists in the voting.
 
In two great pitching performances by the Lakers, GVSU managed a road split against the top-20 ranked Warriors, winning the nightcap 4-0 after a tough 1-0 loss in the opener. Sophomore Allison Lipovsky pitched too well to suffer a loss, as the righty gave up one run on three hits in six innings. She struck out 10 batters and did not issue a walk in defeat.
 
Even more impressive is that Balbach - the game two starter - was just as strong in her effort. The senior lefty allowed only two hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out six Warriors. While Lipovsky retired 14 consecutive WSU batters in the opener, Balbach set down the final 13 hitters she faced in the 4-0 win. She also went 2-for-2 at the plate and her RBI single actually brought home three runs after a Wayne State error, giving herself more than enough run support.
 
For their efforts, Lenza and Lipovsky were named the GLIAC Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. In six games, Lenza hit .579 (11-for-19), as she was 3-for-5 with four RBI against Lewis and went a startling 7-for-8 in the doubleheader at Hillsdale. Lipovsky went 2-1 in her three starts, notching a 0.70 earned run average and totaling 20 strikeouts against just five walks. She was on both ends of 1-0 finishes (win over Lewis, loss to Wayne State) and ranks second in the GLIAC in shutouts (three), strikeouts per game (7.58) and opponents batting average (.169).
 
As a team, Grand Valley State has thrown eight shutouts this year, second-most in the league, while ranking third in the GLIAC in opponents batting average (.246), earned run average (2.48), batting average (.308), and slugging percentage (.415). The Lakers are also in the top-five in the conference in doubles (46; 4th), triples (7; 4th), hits (243; 5th) extra base hits (61; 5th), and sacrifices (21; 5th).

Saturday's doubleheader against Findlay is the team's Breast Cancer Awareness game, where both teams will wear pink jerseys to show support for Indianapolis head coach Melissa Frost, who was diagnosed with breast cancer five months ago. Click here for more information on the doubleheader.
 
At 16-13 overall and 6-2 in conference play, Findlay has won nine of its 12 games since returning from Florida in mid-March. The Oilers had both a four-game winning and losing streak during their trip to Clermont in early March, but dropped their final two games against Drury and Illinois-Springfield. Since then, UF has swept three doubleheaders and split three others. Findlay is 5-1 in April and swept both Lake Erie and Walsh, with the lone loss coming to Wayne State in a 3-0 game one defeat on Wednesday; the Oilers rallied back to win game two over the Warriors, 5-4.
 
Findlay's 19 home runs are the second-most in the league, but they've also struck out 136 times, more than any other team except Ohio Dominican. Fifth in the league in scoring (130 runs), the Oilers have racked up 82 walks (second-most) and eight triples (third-highest). They are 2-3 in true road games and 9-12 away from home; Findlay is 7-1 on its home field.
 
Tiffin is 14-15 on the year and 1-3 in league action, though the Dragons are 14-8 since dropping their first seven games of the season. The team had a pair of three-game winning streaks in March, but has lost three in a row entering this weekend's action against Ferris State (Friday) and GVSU. In conference play, Tiffin split with Hillsdale (4-2 loss, 3-2 win) and fell in both games on Sunday at Lake Erie, 6-5 and 4-2.
 
The Dragons have the second-most sacrifices (40) in the GLIAC and their team ERA of 2.91 is fourth-best, the same ranking as their opponents batting average of .247. TU has scored 127 runs, good for sixth-best in the league, but they rank last in extra base hits (34), which explains their 10th place slugging percentage (.361).
 
After this weekend, Grand Valley State heads on the road three times next week - Tuesday (Apr. 11) at Saint Joseph's, Friday (Apr. 14) at Northwood, and Saturday (Apr. 15) at Saginaw Valley State. The remaining four doubleheaders for the Lakers are all at home.