MIDLAND, Mich. – The No. 19 Grand Valley State Lakers swept the Northwood Timberwolves on Sunday (March 28) to improve to 15-3 overall and 6-0 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play. The Lakers won both games by a 6-4 final, including a win in 10 innings in the nightcap.
 
The Lakers jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in game one, led by a two-run single by Brooke Henning in the first and Nikoma Holmen RBI double in the third. The Timberwolves would respond with a three-run fourth inning to tie the game at 4-4 and it would remain tied until back-to-back RBI knocks by Lydia Goble and Holmen with two outs in the seventh to spring the Lakers in front.
 
Hannah Beatus (W, 6-2) pitched a complete game and allowed four runs – just one earned – on nine hits and a walk while striking out six. Beatus went 3-0 on the weekend to open GLIAC play.
 
Northwood used a leadoff double in the first inning of game one to take an early lead, but the Lakers responded with RBI singles by Bailey Thatcher and Taylor Rieger to catapult in front in the second.
 
A two-out rally in the fourth inning would add to the lead. After the first two batters were retired, three straight singles and an error allowed two more runs to score, including another RBI hit from Rieger. The Timberwolves would rally back for a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to tie the game and force extra innings.
 
That tie would remain until the tenth frame, when Hannah Hollister scored on a wild pitch then Joanna Cirrincione singled home an insurance run. Ashley Platek (W, 5-1) pitched all 10 innings, allowing four earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out 11 Timberwolves.
 
The Lakers return home to host Wayne State on Tuesday (March 30) for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 PM. The games will stream live on the Grand Valley Sports Network and GVSULakers.com and @GVSUSoftball on social media will provide live updates.