The #9-nationally ranked Grand Valley State softball team earned a back and forth victory over the Ferris State Bulldogs in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament. The Lakers, who now improve to 37-7 overall, will face Tiffin at 4:30 PM. The Dragons won their opening game in a 12-1 mercy of Purdue Northwest. 
 
GVSU and FSU combined for 21 hits in the game, with 10 coming from the Lakers, but the Bulldogs had three errors compared to GVSU's one. Freshman Hannah Beatus secured the win, moving her to 8-2 on the season, after she came in to pitch for Allie Grys after the fourth inning. Junior Allison Lipovsky also got her second save of the season, as she came in to relieve Beatus in the top of the seventh inning. The three combined for nine strikeouts and just one walk, with Grys and Beatus each giving up two runs. 
 
Leading the offensive charge was Kaylie Rhynard, who went 3-for-4 in the game, collecting an RBI while scoring two runs. Nikoma Holmen tallied two hits in her four at-bats, scoring a run as well, while Teagan Shomin, Brooke Henning (RBI), Kelcie LaTour (RBI), Shannon Flaherty, and Jessica Ramos (2 RBI) all collected a hit as well. 
 
The Lakers dug themselves a hole early, as the Bulldogs would push two runs across in their first at bats. A single down the left field line got things started before a triple and another single would score two runs over the next two batters. Grys got out of the inning with a strikeout to send the Lakers up to the plate. Teagan Shomin got on via error before moving to second on a bunt single from Rhynard. Another Bulldog error loaded the bases before LaTour delivered a fielder's choice to the third baseman where she threw the ball away trying to get Rhynard out at the plate. GVSU would cut the lead in half, 2-1, heading into the second. 
 
The teams would combine for just four hits in the next three and a half innings before GVSU broke through in the bottom of the frame. GVSU tallied four straight base hits that plated three runs with one out. Rhynard got on with another bunt before coming all the way home from first on a Henning single up the middle. Holmen then laced another single up the middle before LaTour followed suit to score Henning from second and take the 3-2 lead. The Lakers weren't done however, as Ramos would double down the right field line to score a pinch running Kayla Plastiak and Holmen for the 5-2 lead after five. 
 
Ferris State wouldn't go away so easily however, as they would score two in the sixth off of Beatus. A leadoff walk was followed by a fielder's choice and then an RBI triple to left field to cut the lead to two. After a groundout for the second out of the inning, a single from the Bulldogs would push another run across to cut GVSU's lead to one, 5-4. 
 
The Lakers managed to get an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, after Shomin doubled down the left field line before scoring on a Rhynard single to right field. 
 
Beatus came out for the seventh inning but after giving up back to back singles, Lipovsky was brought in to try to shut the door. She did just that, getting the first out via a strikeout before Rhynard caught a Bulldog trying to steal third base for the second out of the inning. After giving up a single, Lipovsky buckled down for one last strikeout to secure the victory for the Lakers. 
 
Again, GVSU will be back in action this afternoon, as they are set to take on #5 seed Tiffin at 4:30 PM.