ALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State baseball team closes the regular season at home with a four-game series against Saginaw Valley State beginning tomorrow (May 5) at 3:00 PM at the GVSU Baseball Field. Two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday (May 6) beginning at 1:00 PM before closing the series and regular season on Sunday (May 7) for senior day at 12:30 PM.
 
The Lakers and Cardinals opened up conference play against each other earlier this season on the campus of Cornerstone University. The Lakers swept the doubleheader winning game one 2-1 and game two 10-1. GVSU is 91-67-2 all-time against Saginaw Valley State and have won the last six matchups. 
 
The Lakers enter the final series of the regular season with a 27-16 overall record and 14-12 GLIAC mark. The Lakers and Cardinals are tied for third in the GLIAC standings heading into the weekend series and will face each other again in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament next weekend. 
 
The Lakers offense is hitting .316 as a team this season with 294 runs scored. Sophomore Jonas Gulbrandsen leads the offense with a .370 batting average with eight doubles, 22 runs, and 29 RBIs. Junior Connor Schuman is batting .326 on the season with a team leading 10 doubles. Sophomore Justin Mansager is hitting .323 on the season with 12 extra base hits, 26 runs scored, and 17 RBIs. Junior Kyle Nott leads the team with 45 runs scored and 12 stolen bases while hitting .313 on the season with 51 hits and 28 RBIs. 
 
Starting pitcher Nick Rutkowski has put together a strong junior campaign leading the GLIAC with an 8-1 record and 1.46 ERA. Rutkowski leads the team with 47 strikeouts and has only walked 14 batters. Sophomore Colby Phipps is 6-2 on the season with a 3.43 ERA and is second on the team with 37 strikeouts. Senior Sam Leck leads the GLIAC with six saves. 
 
Saginaw Valley State enters the weekend with a 24-21 overall record an 14-12 record in the GLIAC. The Cardinals have won five out of their last eight games and are hitting .299 as a team this season led by junior Colin Cornwell who is hitting .340 this season with 41 RBIs. Senior Tucker Roe is batting .327 on the season with a team leading 55 hits and 39 runs scored. Junior Tyler McClaren leads the Cardinal pitching staff with a 7-1 record and 2.52 ERA with 66 strikeouts. Junior Hunter Merillat has posted a 5-1 record on the hill with a 3.91 ERA with 57 strikeouts. Sophomore Reed Raymond is second in the GLIAC with five saves. 
 
The series will be broadcasted on FloSports. Follow @gvsubaseball on Twitter for live in-game updates all weekend long and visit gvsulakers.com for links to live stats and video.