KENOSHA, Wis. – The Grand Valley State baseball team dropped the series opener at Parkside, 6-4, on Friday afternoon. The Lakers, who were without several players due to COVID-19 protocols, fall to 9-10 overall and 5-4 in conference play. The two teams will meet again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 PM ET.
 
GVSU got on the board in the first inning as Joe Laudont belted a two-run homerun to left field, scoring Carter Smith, to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead. Parkside would answer back in the bottom half on a two-run homerun of their own and took a 3-2 lead later in the frame.
 
Smith had an RBI single in the second inning to tie the game at 3-3 and then ripped an RBI double down the left field line in the fourth inning to give the Lakers the lead at 4-3. However, Parkside would score three runs in the fifth to bring the score to the eventual final of 6-4.
 
Smith and freshman Connor Schuman led the Lakers with three hits each and Anthony Cocco finished with a pair of doubles.
 
Starting pitcher Nick Rutkowski (1-2) was tagged with loss, while Jared Skubic  tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.