#14 Grand Valley State claimed an 8-2 GLIAC victory over Saginaw Valley State Sunday, taking the four-game series 3-1. The Lakers, 23-9 overall and 7-5 in GLIAC action, will play a non-conference game at Hillsdale Wednesday.
 
The Cardinals struck first in the top of the first, scoring two runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter as GVSU starter Allan Thorington threw 40 pitches. However, Thorington settled down and retired 16 consecutive batters and 19-of-20 as he worked 7.0 innings and picked up his third win of the year (3-0). Thorington struck out four on the afternoon. 
 
The GVSU offense was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning when freshman CF Caden Thelen doubled to left center to open the inning. Thelen moved to third on a sac bunt by RF Ryan Stimac and scored on a groundout by 3B Caleb Estrada. The Lakers tied the game in the fifth when Estrada singled home C Nick Krstich and took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when LF Ryan Dykstra doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by DH Brendan Guciardo. 
 
Grand Valley State added a run in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-2 lead as Stimac led off the inning with a double, advanced to third on an Estrada groundout and scored when SS Evan Morrison reached on a fielder's choice. 
 
The Laker offense continued to score with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the eighth. 2B Zach Warren singled and stole second, moved to third on a sac bunt by P Ayden VanEnkevort and scored on a Krstich single to right. Stimac walked and Estrada provided a 2-run double to left. Morrison added a double to center that scored Estrada.
 
VanEnkevort earned the save with two innings of no-hit baseball.
 
Estrada was 2-4 with four RBI, while Morrison was 1-5 with two RBI. Krstich was 1-4 with two runs and an RBI and Stimac was 1-2 with two runs.