The #23-ranked Grand Valley State softball team extended their winning streak to seven games after a couple of dominant pitching performances led the Lakers to a pair or shutout victories over the Ferris State Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon (March 18) in Allendale. With the victories, the Lakers improve to 15-5 overall and start the GLIAC portion of their schedule 2-0 while the Bulldogs fall to 6-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference.
 
Allison Lipovsky earned her seventh win of the season to improve to 7-2 on the season after tossing a complete game shutout in the first game of the twinbill. The junior righty allowed just three hits while striking out 12 Ferris State batters and issued zero walks in her 105-pitch outing. Allie Grys kept the dominant pitching going in the second game, earning her fifth win of the season. In a game that saw the Lakers offense score in just one inning, Grys stayed locked in each time out, allowing just four total hits and one walk to six strikeouts to help secure the Lakers seventh straight victory.
 
Offensively, the Lakers racked up 16 hits between the two games. Kaylie Rhynard led the way, tallying four hits while also scoring a run. Teagan Shomin picked up three hits as well while Taylor Rieger, Nikoma Holmen, Kayla Plastiak, and Bailey Thatcher all picked up two apiece. Holmen tallied two RBI between the two games to lead the Lakers while Shannon Flaherty, Kelcie LaTour, and Rieger each picked one up as well.
 
Game One (W, 3-0)
Ferris State singled with one out but Lipovsky quickly shut the door, striking out the following two batters to end any threat in the top of the first. Shomin led off the bottom of the inning with a single and put the first run on the board just two batters later as a Rieger double brought her around from first and gave GVSU a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
 
Neither team had anything doing in the second inning and Lipovsky held the Bulldogs to one hit and zero runs in the top of the third. GVSU added to their lead in the bottom of the frame. Rhynard would get to second base with zero outs after a bunt single and a stolen base before a Rieger single moved her up to third. Holmen stepped up and delivered a single through the right side to score Rhynard for the 2-0 GVSU lead. Ferris State was able to get out of the inning with no more damage however, despite the Lakers having two on with no outs.
 
Lipovsky kept rolling though batters in the fourth and fifth innings before the Laker offense would strike again in the bottom of five. Holmen lead off with a double down the left field line before a Flaherty single would push her across home plate after advancing on a LaTour groundout for the 3-0 lead.
 
Lipovsky would finish off the Bulldogs with two straight 1-2-3 innings to secure the victory, 3-0.
 
Game Two (W, 2-0)
Grys got into some trouble early, as the Bulldogs put runners on first and third with zero outs thanks to back to back singles from the No. 1 & 2 batters. The senior stayed composed however and delivered back to back strikeouts before delivering a pop out to end the early threat.
 
It was a quiet game for the following inning and a half before the Lakers struck in the bottom of the third thanks to a couple of Bulldog miscues. Shomin got things started after reaching on an error and moving up to second before advancing to third on another Bulldog error that put Rieger on as well. Holmen picked up another RBI after forcing an error from the FSU shortstop that scored Shomin and pushed Rieger to third. With one out and runners on second and third, LaTour grounded out to first base unassisted but allowed just enough time for Rieger to race home for the 2-0 lead.
 
Grys kept rolling through the Ferris State lineup, allowing just two hits in her final four innings of work. A leadoff bunt single in the fifth for Ferris State seemed like it could lead to potential runs but Rhynard threw the Bulldog runner out after trying to steal second. The final hit Grys allowed was a two out single in the top of the seventh but she quickly notched her sixth and final strikeout one batter later earn the victory.
 
The Lakers will have one week off before returning to the diamond as they host Northwood and Saginaw Valley State in a couple of doubleheaders next weekend. GVSU will face the Timberwolves on Saturday, March 24 at 1PM & 3PM before coming back the next day against the Cardinals at Noon and 2PM.