ALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State baseball team split today's doubleheader sweep against Wayne State Saturday (April 15) to earn a weekend split. The Lakers are now 22-11 overall and 10-7 in the GLIAC.
Game One – L, 14-1
In game one Wayne State notched a three-run home run in the first inning to take the early lead. The Warriors doubled the lead to 6-0 with a three-run home run in the third inning and launched a solo home run in the fourth inning to make it 7-0.
The Lakers go the only run of the game in the fifth inning on a Brendan Guciardo RBI single up the middle to score Schuman. The Warriors responded with two runs in the sixth and five runs in the seventh to take game one.
Rylan Peets got the start and suffered the loss (2-2), while Allan Thorington tossed three innings without allowing an earned run. Spencer Nelson, Nathan Logan, and Brendan Guciardo each notched a hit.
Game Two – W, 8-5
Wayne State went up early again the first inning by bringing across five runs to take the early 5-0 lead. The Lakers responded and got on the board with a four-run third inning. Spencer Nelson led off the inning with a single and advanced to second off a hit by pitch to Kyle Nott. Nathan Logan in the next at bat singled to center field to score Nelson for his 100th career RBI. After a wild pitch that advanced Nott and Logan to second and third, Jonas Gulbrandsen singled through the right side scoring Nott to make it 5-2. With two outs and runners on second and third, Conner McCormack ripped a clutch two-RBI double to right center to make it a 5-4 game.
The Lakers would take their first lead of the day with two runs in the fourth inning. Nott doubled down the right field line and Gulbrandsen tied the game with an RBI single to left field to score Nott. Next batter, Connor Schuman gave the Lakers a 6-5 lead with an RBI double to right field.
GVSU would add to the lead in the fifth to make it 8-5. Brendan Guciardo made it 7-5 with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Justin Mansager. Spencer Nelson in the next at bat launched a solo home run to right field to make it 8-5. That home run was Nelson's team leading sixth of the season. The Laker bullpen shutout the Warriors in the last eight innings to secure the win.
Nino Puckett earned the win (1-1) after tossing 4.1 scoreless innings of relief striking out three. Logan Wynalda pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief allowing just three hits with one strikeout. Sam Leck earned his fourth save of the season after recording the final two outs.
The top four hitters in the Laker lineup combined for eight hits, seven runs scored, and four runs batted in. Kyle Nott went 2-3 with a double, two runs score, and a walk. Spencer Nelson batted 2-5 with a home run, two runs scored, and RBI. Jonas Gulbrandsen hit 2-5 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI's. Nathan Logan went 2-5 with a run scored and RBI. Justin Mansager batted 2-3 with a run scored. Conner McCormack added a two-RBI double, while Connor Schuman notched an RBI double.
The Lakers will be back home this week Wednesday (April 19) for a single nine-inng non-conference matchup against Hillsdale College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the GVSU Baseball Field. Visit gvsulakers.com for links to live stats and video and follow @gvsubaseball on Twitter for live in-game updates.
