Grand Valley State used a three-run fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie with Findlay in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament on Saturday afternoon (May 6) in Findlay, Ohio, winning 7-4. The Lakers tallied runs in four of its six at-bats and outhit the Oilers 15-4 to advance in the conference tournament, which changed to a single elimination format due to inclement weather.
 
With Saturday's win, GVSU improves to 32-15 and have now won 20 consecutive games, the third-longest win streak in school history. Grand Valley State will face Ashland later on Saturday evening in the semifinals, with a start time to be determined. The Eagles outlasted Ohio Dominican 1-0 in 11 innings in the tournament's other opening game. Findlay's season ends with a 20-24 record.
 
Sophomore Allison Lipovsky - announced as the 2017 GLIAC Pitcher of the Year earlier on Saturday - recorded 14 strikeouts and the Lakers totaled six doubles in their 15-hit barrage to advance in the tournament. GVSU would play Ashland on Saturday night, with the winner advancing to Sunday's championship game, which is now a best-of-three series.
 
After Lipovsky struck out the side to start the game, GVSU scored the game's first run in the first inning. Senior Janae Langs tallied a leadoff double and came in to score as junior Teagan Shomin smacked an RBI single, eventually moving all the way to third base on a throwing error. Shomin was stranded at third, but the Lakers were on top, 1-0.
 
Lipovsky struck out two more in the second inning, but Findlay tied the game with a one-out solo homer from Destinie Keeton to center field. The Lakers immediately regained a 2-1 lead, as sophomore Shannon Flaherty notched a leadoff double. Senior Kelsey Dominguez moved Flaherty to third base with a single and she scored on a fielder's choice from junior Jessica Ramos to put GVSU back out in front.
 
In the third inning, Lipovsky pulled off an extremely rare feat. She struck out the leadoff Findlay batter, but she reached base on a throwing error on the third strike. Lipovsky responded by also striking out the next three batters for a total of four strikeouts in the frame. That gave the GLIAC strikeouts leader a total of nine K's through the opening three innings.
 
Freshman Kelcie LaTour made the score 3-1 with an RBI double that brought in Shomin, who walked to start the third inning. Pinch runner Jenna Czart ran for LaTour and scored on an RBI single from senior Ellie Balbach to give GVSU a 4-1 cushion.
 
The Laker advantage was still 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning. Findlay put runners on the corners with two outs when Madison Arnold delivered a game-tying three-run homer to left center field. Lipovsky allowed just five home runs in the regular season, yet Findlay managed a pair of roundtrippers in the conference tournament opener.
 
GVSU answered in the bottom of the frame, as Balbach led off with a single and Flaherty followed with a double to put two runners in scoring position. Dominguez came through with a two-run double to right center field, scoring freshman Kayla Plastiak (who pinch ran for Balbach) and Flaherty for a 6-4 lead. Later in the inning, Langs singled and moved Dominguez to third base. Langs then stole second and on the throw, Dominguez came home to score and push the Laker cushion to 7-4.
 
Lipovsky struck out two more Oilers in the sixth inning and recorded a 1-2-3 seventh inning to close out the opening game victory. She moved to 15-3 on the season and notched 14 strikeouts, her ninth straight game of double-digit K's. In the 133-pitch complete game win, she gave up four runs on four hits, with a pair of walks.
 
The Lakers outhit Findlay, 15-4, which included all six of the game's doubles. Dominguez went 4-for-4 with a double, a run, and two RBI. Balbach was 3-for-4 with a ribbie, while Langs, Shomin, and Flaherty each collected two hits; Flaherty scored two of the team's seven runs.