MIDLAND, Mich. – The Grand Valley State baseball team will hit the road for a four-game GLIAC series with No. 21 Northwood beginning Friday at 1:00 PM.
 
Schedule: 
Game 1: Friday: 1:00 PM (7 innings)
Game 2: Friday: 4:00 PM (9 innings)
Game 3: Saturday: 12:00 PM (7 innings)
Game 4: Saturday: 3:00 PM (9 innings)
 
The Lakers have won five straight games and currently sit atop the GLIAC standings with a perfect 4-0 mark in the conference play. After dropping a three-games series to Tiffin, GVSU swept Purdue Northwest, outscoring the Pride 30-7 in the four-game series. In non-conference action on Tuesday, the Lakers routed Spring Arbor by a score of 17-0. Carter Smith and Anthony Cocco each had four hits to lead GVSU, while Jared Skubic pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win.
 
Senior Ryan Blake-Jones was named GLIAC Player of the Week after going 7-for-16 with a homerun, three doubles, and eight RBI against Purdue Northwest. In addition, freshman RHP Nick Rutkowski earned GLIAC Pitcher of the Week honors by tossing a complete game (9 innings) in the series opening win last weekend. The Sterling Heights, Mich. native allowed just four hits, one run, and struck out five to lower his season ERA to 2.10.
 
Northwood enters the weekend ranked 21^st in the country after an 8-2 start to the season. Due to COVID protocols, the Timberwolves did not play last weekend and have yet to play a GLIAC contest. Northwood's strength is their pitching staff as they boast a 2.66 team ERA and 9.25 K/9 rate. The starters have a record of 7-1 and average over six innings per start. On offense, the Timberwolves have a .293 team batting average and have launched 12 homeruns in 10 games, while also stealing 21 bases in 24 attempts.
 
Following the series with Northwood, the Lakers will return home for a nine-game homestand starting next Tuesday vs. Hope College.