UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Grand Valley State baseball team picked up an opening series win on the road against Saginaw Valley State by a score of 7-4 on Friday (April 22). The Lakers improve to 24-13 overall, 7-6 in the conference and will continue the weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow (April 23) starting at 12:35 PM.
 
GVSU would strike first in the top of the third on a Justin Mansager RBI groundout that scored Kyle Nott. Later in the inning, Brendan Guciardo singled to center field scoring Nathan Logan that gave GVSU a 2-0 lead. Saginaw Valley tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth on a fielder's choice and single to center field. The Cardinals would take the lead in the next inning off a double to center field, followed by a single to left field to make it 4-2. 
 
In the top of the seventh, GVSU rallied with two outs by scoring three runs to take a 5-4 lead. Cade Stanton singled through the left side to cut the deficit in half. Next batter, after a passed ball that moved Stanton to second, Connor Schuman singled through the right side to tie the game at four. After a Jake Rydquist walk, Spencer Nelson singled to center field to give the Lakers the one run lead. 
 
GVSU would add to the lead in the eighth inning. Stanton hit another RBI single to make it a two-run lead. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, Jake Rydquist hit a sacrifice fly to center field that would score Justin Mansager that pushed GVSU to a 7-4 advantage. Ben Thomas shut the door down in in the seventh and eighth innings to keep the Lakers in front. Nick Shaw came into the ninth inning to secure the win, earning his league leading ninth save of the season.
 
Austin Brown got the start on the mound and pitched a no decision after tossing 5.0 innings allowing four runs off eight hits, while striking out two Cardinal batters. Ben Thomas earned the win (4-1) after tossing 3.0 scoreless innings of relief allowing just two hits, while striking out two. 
 
Cade Stanton led the Laker offense going 3-3 at the plate with two runs batted in and two walks. Kyle Nott hit 3-5 with a run scored, while Spencer Nelson hit 2-5 and drove in the game-winning run in the seventh inning. Nathan Logan batted 2-5 with a double and three runs scored, while Brendan Guciardo went 2-5 and drove in a run.