ALLENDALE—The Grand Valley State softball team opened 2023 conference play with a pair of run-rule victories against Parkside, beating the Rangers, 10-0, in six innings in the first game of the day and leaving the field with a, 10-2, victory in five innings in the second game of the day.
 
The Lakers (18-2, 2-0 GLIAC) opened the weekend against Parkside (9-15, 0-2) on Friday. GVSU also is set to take on Purdue Northwest in doubleheader action on Sunday afternoon.
 
All-in-all, GVSU totaled 20 runs and 24 hits on its first day of GLIAC play. Joanna Cirrincione had five hits on the day, while Kelsey Komorous and Liberti Fair each collected four RBI.
 
GAME 1 – GVSU 10, Parkside 0 (6 innings)
 
The Lakers wasted no time in the first game on Friday.
 
Morgan Wagner kicked off the game in the bottom of the first with an RBI double to right field, scoring Kaitlin Lynch.
 
The Lakers would strike again in the second inning when Hannah Hollister scored on a groundout from Morgan Spicer, making it a two-run GVSU lead.
 
MaryJane Goodman stepped up with the bases loaded in the fourth inning and hit a two-RBI single to left field.
 
With a, 4-0, lead in the fifth inning, Kelsey Komorous hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home Joanna Cirrincione. 
 
After Hollister reached on a fielder's choice, Spicer would hit a double and drive in Hollister and Lydia Goble.
 
Komorous would strike again and cap off the Laker scoring with a bases-loaded double to the right-field wall, bringing in three more Lakers to end the game with a, 10-0, margin in favor of GVSU.
 
Hannah Beatus returned to the circle for GVSU and was solid in her five innings of work. Beatus allowed just three hits and struck out two batters. 
 
Nevaeh Ingram finished out the game for GVSU in the circle. She kept Parkside off the scoreboard in her lone inning of work. 
 
GAME 2 – GVSU 10, Parkside 2 (5 innings)
 
GVSU's offense did not cool off after the first game of the day, putting up another 10 runs on Parkside.
 
The scoring was capped off with a five-run fifth inning to clinch the second run-rule victory of the day.
 
Liberti Fair kicked off the final inning of play with a bases-clearing double, making it, 8-2, GVSU. Fair's double to the left-field corner scored Hannah Hollister, Morgan Spicer and Alexis McCullough. 
 
MaryJane Goodman hit a line drive to shortstop that glanced off the top of the glove, which brought in Fair to make it a, 9-2, Laker lead.
 
Joanna Cirrincione brought in the final run for the Lakers with a single up the middle, scoring Jenna Ballard.
 
GVSU also started out with an offensive outburst, scoring three runs in the second inning.
 
Spicer hit an RBI double to bring home Morgan Wager. After a single from Hannah Hollister, Fair grounded out to second base but Spicer scored. Goodman would bring in Hollister to give GVSU an early, 3-0 lead.
 
Parkside would come within one run after scoring twice in the top of the third inning. 
 
The Lakers added one run in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to go up, 5-2, and set the stage for the five-run fifth inning.
 
Ashley Platek earned her eighth win of the season, going five innings and allowing two earned runs. She struck out four batters and issued five walks. 
 
UP NEXT
 
GVSU is set for another conference doubleheader on Sunday. The Lakers will take on the Pride at 1 p.m. on Sunday for a doubleheader at the GVSU Softball Field.