Grand Valley State dropped its opening game at the NCAA DII Midwest Regional to Maryville by an 8-5 score. The Lakers will now face the host institution, Indianapolis, on Friday morning at 11 a.m. in an elimination game. GVSU, which captured the GLIAC Tournament Championship on Sunday, is making its first appearance in an NCAA Regional since 2016. 

Maryville struck first with two runs in the fourth on a 2-run home run, but DH Jonas Gulbrandsen answered with a solo home in the top of the fifth, his 12th of the year, to pull GVSU within one (2-1). The Saints took a 4-1 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Lakers once again answered with a run in the top of the seventh. Gulbrandsen reached base after getting hit by a pitch, advanced to second a wild pitch, went to third on a Nate Logan groundout. SS Connor Schuman came through with a 2-out, 2-strike single to plate Gulbrandsen and pull the Lakers within two (4-2).

Maryville added a run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead, however, GVSU once again answered with three runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 5-5. 1B Logan Anderson singled and 3B Jake Rydquist walked. 2B Ayden VanEnkevort doubled to right center to score Anderson and Rydquist, but was thrown out at third trying to stretch it to a triple. CF Kyle Nott singled and then scored on a Gulbrandsen single to left to plate Nott and tie the game. 

Maryville hit a 3-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win. 

Senior Nick Rutkowski got the start on the, yielding four runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work. Senior relief pitcher Logan Wynalda tossed 2.1 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. VanEnkevort was 2-4 with a double and two RBI, while Gulbrandsen was 2-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Nott was 1-4 with a run scored, C Brendan Guciardo was 2-4 and Schuman was 1-4 with and RBI. Anderson was 1-4 with a run scored.