Grand Valley State split a GLIAC doubleheader at Saginaw Valley State Saturday, winning game one 10-5, but dropping the finale 12-11. The Lakers will play a midweek GLIAC contest at Davenport Wednesday (May 1), then host the Panthers at the GVSU Baseball Field for a four-game series Friday (May 3) - Sunday (May 5). 

GVSU scored early and late in the opener Saturday. C Brendan Guciardo  singled to open the top of the second, followed by a Jake Rydquist 2-run home run. CF Ayden VanEnkevort was hit by a pitch and DH Kyle Nott reached on an error and advanced to second. LF Ryan Dykstra doubled to right scoring VanEnkevort and Nott to give GVSU a 4-0 lead. Guciardo hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the fifth to up the lead to 5-0. 

The Lakers answered a pair of runs that SVSU scored in the bottom of the fifth with two of their own in the top of the sixth. VanEnkeort was hit by a pitch and stole second, followed by an RBI double from Nott. Nott then scored on a sac fly by Dykstra. GVSU added three more in the top of the seventh. SS Connor Schuman singled and scored on a Logan Anderson double to left. Rydquist reached on a bunt single and VanEnkevort plated Anderson with a bunt single and Nott then plated Rydquist with a bunt single to up the lead to 10-2.

Nott was 3-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. In addition, he reached the 100-RBI total for his career. Dykstra was 1-3 with a double and three RBI, while Rydquist was 2-3 with a HR, two RBI and two runs scored. VanEnkevort was 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, Anderson wa 1-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Schuman and 3B Jonas Gulbrandsen each recorded a hit. 

Mike Morawski picked up the wind, yielding two runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched. 


Game 2

VanEnkevort walked and moved to third on a double Dykstra. RF Nate Logan came through with a 2-out, 2-RBI double and Schuman then plated Logan with a double to right center to give GVSU a 3-0 lead. SVSU answered with four run in the bottom of the first to take a 4-3 lead. C Nick Krstich hit the first home run of his career, a solo shot to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the second, but SVSU went up 6-4 with a pair in the bottom of the second. GVSU tied the game in the top of the fifth with a Gulbrandsen 2-run homer that also plate Dykstra who opened the inning with a single. 

The Cardinals went up 9-6 with the long ball in the bottom of the sixth, but a Gulbrandsen solo shot to left pulled the Lakers back within two (9-7). SVSU pushed its lead to 12-7, but the Lakers continued to battle. MacArthur Graybill hit a pinch hit solo home run in the eighth and then GVSU added three more in the top of the ninth and had the tying run on first. Schuman reached on a throwing error and Anderson followed with a 2-run home run to left. Rydquist hit a solo homer to left and Nott singled to get GVSU in position for the tie. 

The Lakers hit six home runs (Gulbrandsen (2), Graybill, Anderson, Kristich, Rydquist) and three doubles in the game. Gulbrandsen was 3-5 with two HR, three RBI and two runs scored, while Logan and Anderson each drove in a pair. Schuman and Dykstra each collected a pair of hits.