The #6 Grand Valley State Lakers split a twin bill with the Pride of Purdue Northwest on Wednesday afternoon (April 10) in Hammond, Ind. Their offense propelled them to a big 12-3 win in the first game of the afternoon as they knocked a season-high 20 hits before falling in game two, 7-6, when a comeback bid fell just short. 
 
GVSU is now 29-4 on the season and suffer just their second loss in GLIAC play as they fall to 13-2. Purdue Northwest improves to 18-12 overall and 9-7 in conference play. 
 
The duo of Nikoma Holmen and Kaitlyn Plocinski were the main source of GVSU offense as they each tallied five RBI's on the afternoon. Holmen was 5-8 with a pair of homers while Plocinski was 5-9 with three doubles and her first collegiate home run. Kaylie Rhynard, Lydia Goble, and Bailey Thatcher all added four hits as they combined for three RBI's while Morgan Wagner, Shannon Flaherty, and Brooke Henning all added two hits apiece. 
 
In all, the Lakers outhit the Pride 29-11 and outscored them 18-10 while also holding the 17-6 advantage in RBI's. 
 
Senior Allison Lipovsky improved to 17-1 in the circle after she tossed a complete game four-hitter where she allowed three runs, just one of which was earned. She also went for 10 strikeouts to just one walk while holding the Pride to just .148 at the plate. Freshman Hannah Dieck was stuck with the loss in game two after allowing four runs on five hits while fellow freshman Samantha Gehrls tossed three runs where she allowed three runs, just one of which was earned. 
 
Game One (W, 12-3)
Despite getting tow base hits in the first, the Lakers failed to push anything across while the Pride notched two runs after a Laker error in the bottom of the first as they took the early 2-0 lead. 
 
A leadoff double from Plocinski and back to back singles from Plocinski and Henning loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second but the Lakers once again failed to push runs across as they couldn't manage to get the clutch hit needed. Meanwhile, the Panthers scored another run in the bottom of the second thanks to a double and single as they went up 3-0. 
 
GVSU got one back in the top of the third thanks to a Goble solo shot – her eighth of the season – but both offenses would remain quiet until the Lakers nabbed the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Goble reached on a Pride error before Holmen knocked a 2-RBI shot herself to tie the game at 3-3. Henning then delivered an RBI triple to score Thatcher as the Lakers took their first lead of the game, 4-3. 
 
They would add another run in the top of the sixth once again off the bat of Holmen, as she delivered an RBI single to score Rhynard who reached on a leadoff bunt single. After settling in after the second inning, Lipovsky cruised all the way through the rest of the game as she would collect 10 K's during her 17th win of the season. 
 
GVSU would have a huge top of the seventh inning where they would score seven runs on seven hits and one PNW miscue. Wagner knocked in Thatcher who doubled to start the inning before a pinch-running Kayla Plastiak would score in her place after a Rhynard fielder's choice. Rieger then delivered an RBI double to left center before she would score after yet another Goble double. Plocinski would then launch her first collegiate homer – a three run shot – to round out the Lakers seventh inning scoring.
 
Lipovsky made quick work of the Pride in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. 
 
Game Two (L, 7-6)
Holmen picked up right where she left off in game two, knocking a two-run homer in the top of the first. PNW would get one back in the bottom of the inning however as they notched a solo shot of their own. 
 
The Laker added two more in the top of the second when a Flaherty double to left scored Rachel Terwilliger before a Rhynard single scored Flaherty as the Lakers went up 4-1. The Pride would get to the Laker pitching staff over the next three innings however as they would score one in the second, two in the third, and three in the fourth to take the 6-4 lead after four. 
 
GVSU scored one in the fifth when Plocinski delivered an RBI single to left to score Rhynard while she also notched an RBI double in the top of the seventh to bring the Lakers withing one, 7-6, but that's as close as they would get before the final out. 
 
GVSU will be back in action this weekend when they make the short trip to Davenport on Saturday for a 1PM doubleheader before another doubleheader at Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday.