#14 Grand Valley State (10-3) claimed a 2-1 victory over Northwood (5-9) Thursday night at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Florida. The Lakers will play Tiffin Friday at 9:15 am at the Northeast Regional Complex, followed by a 12:30 contest vs. Malone. 
 
After dropping a 1-0 decision Wednesday night to Shorter, the Lakers claimed a pitcher's dual win. Sophomore Owen Avery (1-0) hurled a gem on the mound, yielding one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in 8.0 innings of work. Senior Will Goebel picked up his second save with a scoreless ninth inning. 
 
Northwood took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the third, but the Lakers were able to get that run back in the bottom half of the frame. SS Evan Morrison walked, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Ryan Dyksta flyout to right. Morrison scored on a failed pickoff attempt on Morrison who scored when the ball went into left field. 
 
The Lakers scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth when Zach Warren was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a Ryan Stimac to right. 
 
The Laker defense came up with several key defensive plays, but none more import than a 2-8-5 in the top of the sixth with one out. A Northwood runner went to second on a wild pitch then tried to go to third when the attempted putout sailed into center field. However, CF Ayden VanEnkevort came up throwing and tossed out the runner on a perfect throw to Caleb Estrada at third for the second out of the inning. 
 
C Brendan Guciardo was 2-3 and Stimac drove in the only run. Dykstra, DH Jonas Gulbrandsen, Warren and Stimac each tallied a hit.