Grand Valley State claimed a 3-0 GLIAC shutout victory over Purdue Northwest Friday afternoon at the GVSU Baseball Field. The Lakers will host Purdue Northwest in a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Outstanding pitching by both starters and a Purdue Northwest defense that was able to end a couple of GVSU scoring threats in the opening three innings was the opening story. The Lakers were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth when 2B Ayden VanEnkevort was able to come through with a two-out single to left that scored Nathan Logan from second. Logan walked with one out and then stole second base. 

GVSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when SS Connor Schuman and CF Kyle Nott singled to open the inning. LF Ryan Dykstra singled to right center to score Schuman and up the lead to 2-0. Logan singled to center to open the bottom of the eighth and 1B Conner McCormack doubled into a tornado type of wind to left center to score Logan all the from first give the Lakers a 3-0 lead heading to the ninth.

Senior pitcher Nick Rutkowski went out for the ninth inning attempting to pick up the complete game shutout victory and he was a able to get the first two batters, but a single with two outs ended his stellar start. Will Goebel came in to pick up the save and get the final out. 

Rutkowski yielded six hits and struck out five en route to his fifth win of the year and the 19th of his career. 

McCormack was 3-4 with a double and RBI, while Nott was 2-3 and reached base a third time with a walk. VanEnkevort was 1-4 with an RBI, while Dykstra was also 1-4 with and RBI. Logan was 1-3 with two runs scored, while Schuman was 1-4 with a run scored. 3B Jonas Gulbrandsen played outstanding defense and was 1-4, while C Brendan Guciardo also recorded a hit.