MIDLAND, Mich. – The No. 24 Grand Valley State softball team swept a doubleheader from the Northwood Timberwolves Friday (April 15) at Fisher Field. The Lakers pulled away for a 9-5 win in the opener, then stayed hot for an 8-0 win in five innings in game two. The Lakers are now 28-5 on the season and 13-3 in GLIAC play.
 
The Lakers twice erased early deficits before pulling away in game one. Kaitlin Lynch led off the game with a bunt single, stole second, then scored on a double by Joanna Cirrincione to start the game. The Timberwolves answered with two unearned runs in their first to take the lead, but Cirrincione would hit her second double in as many innings to clear the bases in the second and drive three runs home to put the Lakers up.
 
Northwood responded again with a three-run second of their own to take a 5-4 lead. GVSU got their first two on in scoring position to start the third but the next two batters were retired to leave it up to Bailey Thatcher, who beat out an infield single up the third base line, then Megan Koenigshof singled into the hole at shortstop to plate a go-ahead run which would prove to be the game-winner.
 
The Lakers tacked on insurance in the sixth with an RBI knock by Kelsey Komorous then a Koenigshof two-run single to give GVSU breathing room. The Timberwolves rallied to load the bases in the seventh, but a strikeout slammed the door on a comeback attempt to close things out.
 
Hannah Beatus (W, 13-2) didn't have her usual lights-out stuff early; allowing five runs – three earned – across the first two innings, but showed the focus and poise that makes her this team's leader with five shutout innings once her team got her the lead back. She got a little help in the fourth, thanks to a full-extension diving grab by Cirrincione to end the inning with two in scoring position. Beatus allowed 10 hits and three walks while striking out seven.
 
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring three runs in the first on an RBI double by Taylor Rieger and two-run single from Morgan Wagner. Lydia Goble added to the lead with a solo home run to lead off the third, her fourth of the season. The Lakers used speed and small ball to force the Timberwolves into three of their five errors on the game in the fourth to push themselves to the run-rule limit.
 
Genesis Eggart (W, 8-1) allowed just one hit – an infield single – in the complete-game shutout win while striking out two and walking two. She got out of her only true jam in the third, when Northwood loaded the bases on a hit, walk and error with one out, but Eggart got a strikeout and flyout to end the threat.

The Lakers are back in action on Wednesday (April 20) when they host Davenport for a doubleheader, with game one beginning at 3 PM.