ALLENDALE—The Grand Valley State softball team swept Northwood on Tuesday afternoon at the GVSU Softball Field, winning in two completely different fashions.
 
The Lakers made quick work of the Timberwolves in the first game, winning, 8-0, in five innings. GVSU needed to rally in the seventh to force extra innings, when it would win, 4-3, in 10 innings.
 
GVSU (27-3) has now won 11 in a row after its pair of victories on Tuesday. The Lakers also avenged a loss to Northwood (24-15) from a game the teams played in March at The Spring Games.
 
Game One – GVSU 8, Northwood 0 (5 Innings)
 
The Laker offense popped off for three multi-run innings to clinch victory via the run-rule.
 
GVSU got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in the first inning. 
 
Lydia Goble drove in Kaitlin Lynch with a sacrifice fly to right field. Morgan Wagner was the next batter up and sent the ball into left field for a single, bringing home Joanna Cirrincione. Kelsey Komorous kept the scoring train moving with a double to right-center field to score Wagner.
 
The Lakers would add to their three-tun lead in the third inning with three more runs.
 
MaryJane Goodman grounded out to shortstop with the bases loaded and Alexis McCullough came into score for GVSU. Megan Koenigshof sent one to center field for a single, bringing home Morgan Spicer and Komorous, making it a, 6-0, Laker lead.
 
GVSU would cap off the game with a pair of fifth inning runs.
 
Cirrincione would reach on an infield hit, driving in Goodman to give the Lakers a, 7-0, lead. Goble then singled to center field to score Koenigshof to end the game via run-rule.
 
Hannah Beatus was excellent on the mound again for the Lakers. She tossed a complete game, allowing three hits and issuing one walk in five innings of work. The GLIAC's leader in strikeouts added three more to her total against Northwood. The victory marks Beatus' 13th on the season.
 
Game Two – GVSU 4, Northwood 3 (10 Innings)
 
Northwood controlled most of the second game of play, but the Lakers came up in the clutch on multiple occasions to complete a midweek sweep of the Timberwolves.
 
Eliana Eiland had the walk-off sacrifice fly for the Lakers in the bottom of the 10th inning. Facing a, 3-2, deficit, she hit a deep fly ball to right field, which was caught. Kelsey Komorous came home from third base to score. Northwood's right fielder stumbled to the ground after making the grab, allowing Hannah Hollister to come home and win the game for GVSU by a score of, 4-3.
 
Northwood went ahead in the 10th inning, taking advantage of the international tiebreaker. The Timberwolves used a sacrifice bunt followed by a single to center field to take a, 3-2, lead in the top of the 10th.
 
GVSU needed a rally in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings and it was able to tie the game and force extra innings.
 
Coming into the seventh inning down, 2-1, the Lakers were able to manufacture a tying run. Singles from Eliana Eiland and Liberti Fair along with a fielder's choice for Kaitlin Lynch loaded the bases for GVSU. 
 
Lydia Goble sent a groundball back to the pitcher who threw home to get the second out of the inning. Northwood's catcher attempted to complete a double play at first base, but the throw was errant and allowed Megan Koenigshof to come home and score the tying run, making it, 2-2, after seven innings.
 
Northwood struck first, scoring twice in the third inning off a two-RBI double to right field from Haley Frank.
 
Morgan Wagner drove in Goble with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third, making it a, 2-1, Timberwolves lead. Neither team scored again until GVSU tied it in the seventh.
 
Ashley Platek pitched all 10 innings for GVSU. She allowed two earned runs on 11 hits and two walks. She struck out one batter in her 11th victory of the season.
 
UP NEXT
The Lakers are back in action with a quick turnaround, facing off with Wayne State for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the GVSU Softball Field.