DENVER, Colo. – It's win or go home as the No. 13 Grand Valley State Lakers put their season on the line in an elimination game tonight (May 28) against the West Chester Rams in the second round of the College World Series at Assembly Athletic Complex on the campus of MSU Denver. Both teams fell in one-run games Thursday; the Lakers losing 1-0 to West Texas after St. Anselm walked off on the Rams with a 3-2 win.
 
The Lakers, who were shut out for just the third time this season and now sit at 44-9, haven't lost back-to-back games in 2021. This will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Lakers and Rams, with the Lakers leading the series history 4-2.
 
The teams last played in Florida in 2018 when the Lakers routed West Chester, 11-1, in five innings. Current Lakers Bailey Thatcher, Nikoma Holmen, Taylor Rieger and Brooke Henning combined for nine hits and seven RBI in that win.
 
The Rams are 34-15 after winning their final six games of the regular season and rallying for a PSAC Tournament championship followed by an undefeated run through the Atlantic regional. Madison Melvin has led the way with a .437 batting average while also blazing the basepaths to the tune of 29 stolen bases in 30 attempts. Bri Garber is hitting .406 while Trisha Kopinetz has 10 home runs to supply the power.
 
In the circle, the Rams post a 4.13 ERA for the season with Jen Hanshaw and Mary Picozzi getting a bulk of the work. The winner of the game tonight faces the loser of the matchup between Augustana and Biola earlier in the day while the loser's season is over.