ALLENDALE—The Grand Valley State softball team swept Purdue Northwest on Sunday, defeating the Pride, 8-0, in a six-inning run-rule victory in game one, and winning, 7-2, in the second game of the day.
 
GVSU (20-3, 4-0 GLIAC) won three of its four games via run-rule on the opening weekend of conference play and outscored its opponents 35-4 over the span of four games.
 
GAME 1 – GVSU 8, Purdue Northwest 0 (6 innings)
 
Hannah Beatus was nearly spotless for the Lakers in the circle, tossing six shutout innings and allowing just one hit. Beatus took a perfect game into the fifth inning. She struck out six batters and did not issue a walk.
 
The Laker offense was on a tear in the sixth inning, putting up six runs to clinch a third consecutive victory via run rule. 
 
Megan Koenigshof singled home MaryJane Goodman after Goodman hit a triple to lead off the inning. 
 
Koenigshof and Kaitlin Lynch would score on a Joanna Cirrincione triple, making it, 5-0. Cirrincione would steal home when Purdue Northwest tried to throw out Eliana Eiland at second base.
 
Eiland crossed home after a Purdue Northwest error and Hannah Hollister scored on the next play to end the game.
 
The Lakers turned a crucial double play in the fifth inning to keep Purdue Northwest off the basepaths. Lydia Goble fielded a ground ball and shoveled it to Morgan Spicer who threw it back to Kelsey Komorous to eliminate the Pride offense in the fifth.
 
Cirrincione scored on an infield single from Morgan Wagner in the first inning to get GVSU on the board. Cirrincione would drive in the next run for GVSU in the second inning with a single back up the middle in the second inning.
 
GAME 2 – GVSU 7, Purdue Northwest 2
 
The Lakers got off to a quick start, scoring two runs in the first inning.
 
Lydia Goble hit a ball to the right-field wall, doubling home Kaitlin Lynch and advancing Joanna Cirrincione to third base. Morgan Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to score Cirrincione to make it, 2-0.
 
Wagner grounded out to shortstop in the third inning, but Lydia Goble scored on the play to give the Lakers a, 3-0, lead.
 
GVSU scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a, 7-0, lead. Cirrincione doubled home Lynch and MaryJane Goodman to start the inning. Goble hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Cirrincione and Kelsey Komorous hit a solo home run to cap off the scoring.
 
Purdue Northwest (16-12, 0-2) scored twice in the fifth inning to make it, 7-2.
 
Ashley Platek earned her ninth victory of the season with a complete game in the circle for GVSU. She allowed just two runs and gave up seven hits. Platek tossed three strikeouts and issued two walks.
 
UP NEXT
 
GVSU softball is back in action on Wednesday for a doubleheader against regional foe Lewis. Action at the GVSU Softball Field is set for a 3 p.m. start.