Grand Valley State (29-18) split a GLIAC doubleheader Saturday with Parkside, dropping the opener 4-2 and winning game two 5-4. The Lakers and Rangers will conclude the series with a single game on Sunday. GVSU will honor its six seniors (
Christian Faust, Joeseph Huesing,
Mark Scannell,
Nick Shaw,
Nathan Wargolet,
Ben Thomas) prior to the Sunday finale.
The Rangers built a 2-0 lead through four innings of action, but the Lakers pushed across three runs in the bottom half of fifth frame. RF
Justin Mansager, 2B
Connor Schuman and C Zach Collins singled to open the inning. 3B
Jake Rydquist singled to center to drive in a pair and SS
Christian Faust tallied an RBI on fielders choice to stake the Lakers a 3-2 lead. Rydquist drove in his third run of the game with a triple to score Mansager who singled to open the inning. After the Rangers tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, the Lakers were able to win it in walk-off fashion. LF
Kyle Nott opened with a walk and moved to second on a sac bunt from Faust. 1B
Nathan Logan was intentionally walked and DH
Brendan Guciardo single to load the bases. Mansager ripped a fielders choice that scored Nott for the win.
Rydquist was 2-for-2 with three RBI, while Mansager was 2-for-5 with and RBI and two runs scored. Nott was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Gucardo also collected a pair of hits. Logan, Schuman and Collins each tallied a hit.
Colby Phipps yielded one run on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work, while
Nathan Wargolet picked up the win in relief.
Game 1
The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a Nott walk in the bottom of the first, followed by a
Spencer Nelson HR to left. Logan then doubled to give him the GVSU single-season record with 22 two-baggers. Former Laker great Kyle Gendron held the previous record with 21. The Lakers left 11 on base while collecting nine hits. Nott, Logan and Guciardo each tallied a pair of hits.
Nick Rutkowski was tagged with the loss despite going the distance. He yielded six hits and four runs, three of which were earned, while striking out four.