The #15-nationally ranked Grand Valley State softball team finally got back on the diamond, albeit in frigid temperatures, and took two games at Purdue Northwest on Saturday (April 7) afternoon. The Lakers offense exploded in game one, scoring three runs in both the first and the second innings before tacking on two more in the third and fifth for the 8-0 mercy rule victory after five innings of play. While the Lakers did score a run in the first inning of game two as well, it turned out to be a pitcher's duel the rest of the way as neither team managed to score again as GVSU won 1-0. With the pair of victories, the Lakers are now 23-5 overall to go along with their 10-0 record in GLIAC competition while the Pride fall to 17-14 overall and 7-7 in conference play.
 
As a team, the Lakers dominated Purdue Northwest on the offensive side of the ball, holding a 19-3 margin in hits, including a 3-0 margin in doubles, while they outscored the Pride by a 9-0 mark on the afternoon.
 
At the plate, freshman Brooke Henning led the charge for the Lakers, as she tallied four hits in her five at-bats while scoring two runs as well while senior Teagan Shomin went 3-for-4 with two RBI's and three runs scored. Jessica Ramos, Kaylie Rhynard, Bailey Thatcher, and Taylor Rieger all added two hits to the Lakers total while Nikoma Holmen and Kelcie LaTour each added one as well.
 
Allison Lipovsky was in the circle for the Lakers in game one and she dominated the Pride lineup to the tune of five innings pitched (mercy rule victory), zero runs allowed, 12 strikeouts, and just one single hit all contest. Lipovsky now sports an 11-2 record so far this season. Unfortunately for the Pride, they didn't catch a break in game two, as Allie Grys delivered a complete game two-hitter while allowing zero runs and striking out seven for her eighth win of the season (8-1). As a duo, Lipovsky and Grys allowed zero runs in 12 innings, gave up just three hits, struck out 19 batters and allowed a total of zero walks.
 
Game One (W, 8-0)
Despite the cold weather all afternoon, the Laker bats came out hot in the first inning. Shomin drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a Rhynard sac bunt and to third on a passed ball one batter later. Rieger then ripped a single to center field to score Shomin and give GVSU the quick 1-0 lead. With two outs in the same inning, LaTour delivered a single to right center that scored Rieger before eventually coming around to score off of the bat of Ramos for the 3-0 lead after the first half inning.
 
Lipovsky delivered a quick 1-2-3 inning to put GVSU back up to the plate where they would add three more runs on four hits. After a leadoff single, Thatcher was able to score from first base after a Shomin double to left center. Rhynard beat out an infield single before both her and Shomin advanced on a passed ball by the Pride. Holmen then delivered a one-out single to score Shomin. LaTour then hit into a double play but Rhynard managed to cross the plate for the 6-0 Laker lead after just an inning and a half. Lipovsky sat the Pride down in order once again in the bottom of the inning.
 
GVSU would add a run in the third after Henning would come around to score off of the bat of Shomin after she got on with a leadoff double. Over the next two Pride at-bats, Lipovsky tallied five strikeouts and a popout as she continued to dominate anyone who stepped into the box.
 
The Lakers would seal the game in the fifth inning after scoring their eighth run thanks to a steal of home by Henning before Lipovsky tallied three more strikeouts in the bottom of the frame to end the game. The Pride did manage to get one hit off the righty with one out in the bottom of the final inning.
 
Game Two (W, 1-0)
GVSU would once again jump out to an early lead as they scored what would turn out to be the game-winning run in their first at-bats of game two. Shomin leadoff with a single before stealing second and scoring off the bat of Rieger, her second RBI of the day, as she doubled to left centerfield. The Pride nearly tied the game in the bottom of the inning after their second batter reached thanks to a Laker error and advanced to third on a single a batter later. With two-outs and two on, Grys buckled down and got a swinging strikeout to end the early threat and preserve the Laker lead.
 
Neither team would collect a hit in the second inning and each would pick up just a single in the fourth inning as the pitchers from both squads were rolling through the batters. GVSU threatened in the fifth with a leadoff single from Kiessel and a single from Shomin a few batters later to put runners on first and second but they failed to push anyone across. Grys strolled through three more Pride batters in the bottom of the fifth, collecting two strikeouts and a groundout.
 
The sixth and seventh innings were just as quiet as the second and third, as GVSU managed just one hit and PNW was held hitless over that time. Grys induced two straight flyouts before a groundout ended all hopes from the Pride as GVSU would win 1-0.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on Monday, April 9, as they are set to host Davenport in a doubleheader with games at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Following that pair of games, GVSU will embark on an eight-game away stretch (Apr. 11-15) before returning to Allendale to close out their season with eight straight home games between Apr. 18-28.