SANDUSKY, Ohio – The No. 13 Grand Valley State Lakers both games on the opening day of the GLIAC Softball Tournament on Tuesday (May 11) to remain in the winner's bracket. The Lakers beat Ashland 9-1 in the opener then Wayne State, 1-0, in the second game to improve to 39-7 on the season.
 
The Lakers won their opening game in walk-off mercy fashion. After a couple scoreless innings, Joanna Cirrincione singled home Megan Koenigshof in the third to open the scoring. Ashland answered with a two-out single in the fourth to tie things up, but the Lakers broke the game open in the home fourth with a six-run inning.
 
A single, walk and sacrifice bunt that was muffed loaded the bases with no outs. Koenigshof singled home a run then Cirrincione lofted a sacrifice fly to center field. After Taylor Rieger walked to reload the bases, Nikoma Holmen ripped a triple off the wall in dead center to plate all three runs. Brooke Henning would single home Holmen one batter later to round out the inning.
 
Cirrincione lofted her second sac fly of the game the following inning to plate Bailey Thatcher then Paige Ligocki scored on a passed ball to give the Lakers the eight-run lead needed for a mercy win. Ashley Platek (W, 10-3) earned the win for the Lakers, allowing a run on two hits while striking out eight, including six of the first seven hitters she faced.
 
The Lakers then outdueled Wayne State behind stellar defense and Hannah Beatus' (W, 19-2) eighth complete-game shutout of the season. She allowed just three hits and four walks while striking out five to make Morgan Wagner's first-inning RBI single stand up.
 
The Lakers will play in the winner's bracket game tomorrow (May 12) at 12:00 PM. GVSULakers.com and @GVSUSoftball on social media will provide updates on the opponent when available.