#14 Grand Valley State (9-3) split a pair of nine-inning games on Wednesday at the RussMatt Collegiate Baseball Invitational in Davenport, Florida at the Northeast Regional Park. The Lakers picked up a big in-region win over former GLIAC foe Ashland, 5-2, then dropped a 1-0 pitchers dual to Shorter University (15-5). The Lakers have a schedule change for Thursday due to the snowstorm that went through Minnesota and Michigan's upper peninsula. Minnesota State was unable to fly out of Minneapolis, Minnesota so GVSU will now play Northwood at Lake Mrytle Park in Auburndale, Florida. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.
 
Thunderstorms that went through central Florida and pushed the start time back versus Ashland did not slow down the GVSU offense. The Lakers pounded out 12 hits and claimed a 5-2 decision over Ashland. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but GVSU answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs sophomore RF Ryan Stimac singled, stole second and then scored on an Evan Morrison double down the leftfield line. GVSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when DH Jonas Gulbrandsen and catcher Brendan Guciardo singled, followed by a two-out RBI single to center by CF Ayden VanEnkevort. 3b Caleb Estrda singled to left to open the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on a sac bunt by VanEnkevort. 2B Zach Warren bunted for a single and Estrada moved to third and Stimac singled to left to up the Laker lead to 3-1. 
 
Ashland scored a run in the top of the eighth, but the Laker defense prevented any more runs from scoring. Stimac threw out an Ashland baserunner trying to stretch a single to a double and and Ashland runner made the third out of the inning at home trying to score from second on an infield error. GVSU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, again with two outs. Guciardo and Estrada singled, followed by a VanEnkevort RBI single to center. Estrada then scored the final Laker run on a wild pitch. 
 
Ashland loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but senior LHP Will Goebel got the final out and picked up his first save of the year. 
 
Senior LHP Allan Thorington earned the victory with an outstanding outing on the hill. Thorington yielded just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 7.2 innings. 
 
VanEnkevort went 2-4 with two RBI, while Stimac was 2-3 with and RBI and a run scored. Gulbrandsen, Guciardo, and Estrada each collected two hits. 
 
GVSU was unable to get anything going in game two versus Shorter with just four hits and two walks. Shorter scored a single run in the bottom of the sixth and it held up for the win. 
 
Colby Phipps pitched an outstanding game for the Lakers, yielding just one run on three hits with a career-high nine strikeouts. Colton King yielded just two hits  in two innings of relief work.