A four-run sixth inning was enough for Ashland to hold off Grand Valley State in the GLIAC Tournament semifinals on Saturday evening (May 6), as the Lakers fell by a 5-4 final score. The loss knocked out GVSU from the single-elimination format of the tournament and snapped the team's 20-game winning streak.
 
This year's tournament switched from its usual double-elimination format thanks to inclement weather during Friday's original opening day. The tournament switched to a 'one and done' format. GVSU won its opening game over Findlay 7-4, while Ashland outlasted Ohio Dominican 1-0 in 11 innings.
 
With the loss, Grand Valley State fell for the first time since Apr. 2 at #18 Wayne State - the team's first defeat in its last 21 games. The top-seeded Lakers are 32-16 overall and will await their NCAA Tournament fate during Monday morning's (May 8) postseason selection show.
 
Coincidentally, this is the third year in a row that Ashland eliminated GVSU from the conference tournament. At 30-21 and the tournament's fifth seed, Ashland advances to Sunday's best-of-three championship series against third-seeded Saginaw Valley State.
 
The Lakers got off to a great start in the first inning, plating three runs after GVSU starter Courtney Reinhold tossed a 1-2-3 first frame. Senior Janae Langs tripled to right field to lead off the home half of the frame. Junior Teagan Shomin followed with a single to left field, but Langs was forced to stay at third base. Langs did come home when senior Jenna Lanza laid down a bunt single for a 1-0 lead.
 
Shomin scored on the next play when freshman Kelcie LaTour laid down a sacrifice bunt and Ashland committed an error, allowing Shomin to score. Two batters later, sophomore Shannon Flaherty delivered an RBI double to score LaTour for the 3-0 advantage.
 
The Lakers, however, collected just one hit over the next four innings on a one-out double from senior Kelsey Dominguez in the fourth frame. Ashland cut the deficit to 3-1 with a run in the third inning off of Reinhold.
 
In the sixth inning, junior Allie Grys took over for Reinhold in the circle. Ashland used a collection of bunts and two Laker errors to score four runs and take a 5-3 cushion.
 
Grand Valley State was able to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Ellie Balbach doubled to left center field and was lifted for pinch runner Kayla Plastiak. She moved to third base on a walk to Flaherty, with a wild pitch during the at-bat. Dominguez brought in Plastiak with a fielder's choice, making the score 5-4. GVSU left a pair of runners on base to end the inning, but at least pulled within a run.
 
Grys worked around a two-out double in the seventh to keep the game at a one-run deficit. In the bottom of the seventh, Lenza singled to left field with two outs, but Ashland completed the win with a final groundout.
 
Reinhold went the first five innings, allowing one run on three hits. She totaled 11 groundouts out of her 15 outs recorded. Grys (8-2) lost for just the second time this season, giving up four runs on four hits in two innings. Only one of the runs credited to Grys was earned.
 
The Lakers outhit Ashland, 8-7. GVSU committed three errors to two for the Eagles. Lenza was the lone Laker to record multiple hits, as she was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Four of the five extra base hits were from Grand Valley State, including three doubles and Langs' triple.
 
In 32 all-time appearances at the GLIAC Tournament, GVSU is 73-60. The Lakers are looking to clinch their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, which will be announced Monday morning. Grand Valley State won the Midwest Region championship last season and advanced to the College World Series in Denver, Colo.