ALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State softball team returns home for the first time this season, hosting Purdue Northwest in a GLIAC doubleheader Wednesday (March 26) in the home opener. First pitch for game one is set for 3:00 PM at the GVSU Softball Field. 
 
GVSU is coming off of their opening weekend of GLIAC play. The Lakers swept Roosevelt on the road in a doubleheader before falling to Parkside in a doubleheader. GVSU is now 11-15 overall on the season and 2-2 in the GLIAC.
 
The Lakers are hitting .279 as a team with 38 doubles and 13 triples. Freshman Madelynn Pope leads GVSU with a .379 batting average with 26 hits, 12 runs scored, 12 runs batted in, and a team leading six triples. Pope notched six hits with four runs scored and two triples in the doubleheader sweep at Roosevelt. Freshman Grace Usher is hitting .328 with 19 hits, five doubles, and 10 runs batted in. Usher launched her first collegiate home run last weekend at Roosevelt. Junior Elizabeth Wesoloski has notched a .318 batting average with a team leading 27 hits and 18 runs batted in.
 
The Laker pitching staff has tossed a 3.29 team ERA which ranks fourth in the GLIAC. Freshman Karli Dorr ranks seventh in the GLIAC with a 2.72 ERA. Dorr leads GVSU and is second in the GLIAC with 66 strikeouts. Junior Nevaeh Ingram ranks ninth in the GLIAC with a 2.83 ERA. Ingram is sixth in the conference with 53 strikeouts and third with 66.2 innings pitched in 12 appearances.
 
Purdue Northwest is 6-17-1 on the season and 1-3 in the GLIAC. The Pride opened their GLIAC schedule with a split against Parkside before losing both games in a doubleheader to Roosevelt. Purdue Northwest is hitting .285 as a team with 29 extra base hits and 106 runs scored. The Pride have tossed a 5.81 team ERA with 103 strikeouts. 
 
Amanda DeBoer leads the Pride with a .406 batting average on 28 hits, 17 runs scored, and 13 runs batted in. Olivia Hernandez is hitting .393 on the season with 22 hits and a team leading 22 runs batted in. Kylie Madura is batting .333 with 20 hits and 11 runs. The Pride pitching staff have seen four players make at least eight appearances with five starts. Rylan Gick leads Purdue Northwest with a 4.74 ERA and 40 strikeouts. 
 
Tomorrow's doubleheader will be streamed live on FloSports. Visit gvsulakers.com for links to live video and live stats. Follow @GVSUSoftball on Twitter for live in-game updates.