DENVER, Colo. – The No. 13 Grand Valley State Lakers fell, 1-0, in the opening round of the 2021 College World Series to the No. 12 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs Thursday (May 27) at the Assembly Athletic Complex on the campus of Metro State of Denver. The Lakers are now 44-9 and will face West Chester in an elimination game Friday (May 28) at 6:30 PM MDT (8:30 EDT).
 
Hannah Beatus (L, 24-4) retired the first eight batters she faced before an infield single, a skipped in hit batter on an 0-2 count and ground ball single pushed across the game's only run in the third inning. Beatus allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out six, but suffered the loss.
 
"We talk all the time about not having back-to-back negative plays and that got away from us a little bit in this one,' Beatus said after the game. "We had some opportunities that we didn't convert on both sides of the ball and we beat ourselves a bit in that regard."
 
"There were some things we didn't execute today and, at this stage in the season, you have to do all the little things to win," said head coach Dana Callihan. "We'll certainly learn from this one work to get some things corrected as we move to tomorrow."
 
Lydia Goble had two of the Lakers three hits, joined by birthday girl Bailey Thatcher, but the Lakers were never able to get a runner past second base. The Lakers got two on in the fourth and sixth but couldn't find a way to bring around the equalizer.
 
"We just have to play our game. We haven't even hit our stride yet. And that's the scary part," Goble said after the game. "When we play the way we are capable of playing we can beat anybody."
 
The Lakers will look to stay alive Friday to face the loser of the winners' bracket game between West Texas A&M and St. Anselm on Saturday.