ALLENDALE, Mich.-- The Grand Valley State baseball team split the opening doubleheader with Ohio Dominican on Saturday at GVSU Baseball Field, overcoming a six-run deficit to take game one by a 9-8 score before falling in the nightcap, 5-1. The Lakers spent a majority of the day trailing the Panthers, needing some late heroics to claim the split and never recovering from an early deficit in the game two loss. GVSU moves to 16-12 overall (4-6 GLIAC) with the split.

The Lakers took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of game one, giving Jake Mason mmediate run support, only to see the Panthers tie it up at 1-1 in the top of the second frame. A sacrifice fly by Johnny Nate in the third plated Josh Smith, who had tripled to get board and put the Lakers ahead 2-1. 

A stretch of bade baseball threatened to doom the Lakers in the fourth inning, when a routine infield pop-up was allowed to let fall with two outs. Ohio Dominican made good use of the free out by launching a two-run home run shortly thereafter to take a 3-2 lead. Three more runs came across the plate for the Panthers before the final out was finally secured, turning a lead into a 6-2 deficit. 

In the fifth, two more runs staked the Panthers out to an 8-2 lead, and it looked as if the game might be decided. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, however, the Lakers got two baserunners on with one out via a HBP and single, and an RBI double by Seth Johnson moments later plated Nate and Connor Glick to cut the lead to 8-4. GVSU wasn't done yet, however, as Brody Andrews smashed a two-run home run over the left center field wall to pull within two, 8-6.

After Laker reliver Brendan Nearing struck out the side in order to begin the sixth, the Lakers tacked on a solo run in the bottom of the frame via an RBI single by Glick to score Nate, making it 8-7. Nearing struck out two more in the top of the seventh, then gave way to Matt Williams for the final strikeout. With all the momentum clearing pulling their way, the Lakers got life in the bottom of the seventh, as pinch-hitter Ryan Blake Jones smacked a double to the wall in left center with one out. A soft liner by Williams then nearly got through the infield, but was plucked out of the air by the Panthers shortstop, leaving the Lakers with one last out. Pinch hitter Anthony Villar drew a walk, setting the stage of right fielder Alex Young to make an impact. 

Young took a 2-2 pitch into centerfield, and Blake-Jones hustled home to tie the game at 8-8 and send it to extra innings. After the Panthers advanced their lead runner to second base before Williams struck out the final batter, it was up to the Lakers to try an steal the victory. A one-out walk by Glick got the Lakers their baserunner. and a crucial bobble on a possible double play ball by the Panthers third baseman allowed Austin LaDoux to reach first. Seth Johnson then single through the right side, a softly hit ball that didn't guarantee the run from second. Glick hustled home and beat the relay throw to the plter, however, ending up mobbed by his teammates as the Lakers completed the comeback and snatched away the victory. 

Johnson tallied three hits and three RBI, while Andrews and Glick each had three hits. Andrews tallied two RBI, while Nate, Glick and LaDoux each drove in a run. LaDoux, Williams and Smith each had two base knocks. 

Mason did not factor in the decision, but pitched 3.2 in the start. Evan Koning pitched 2/3 of an inning, fanning two, while Nearing pitched 2.1 scoreless frames, striking out six batters in his first action of the season after recovering from injury. Williams (2-2) earned the win while striking out three and allowing one hit in 1.1 innings pitched. 

Game two saw the Lakers fall into a 3-0 hole after the third inning of play, as the Panthers got to Laker starter Ryan Arnold (2-2). A fourth inning single to right field by Matt Williams was the onus behind the Lakers only run against Dominican starter Garrett Sendelbach, as the ODU outfield misplayed the ball and allowed Brody Andrews to score instead of holding up at third base. 

GVSU would get no closer, however, as three scoreless frames and a pair of Panther runs in the top of the sixth put away the Lakers by a final score of 5-1. Andrews led the team with three hits in the game, bringing his total on the day to six hits in seven at-bats. Glick and Williams each drew two walks, while Williams added a hit. Troy Dykhuis pitched 1.1 innings of relief. 

The teams will played in another doubleheader tomorrow, with first pitch set for 1:00 PM.