ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Grand Valley State softball team closed out the 2026 opening weekend with a 3-1 win over Winona State Saturday (Feb. 21) night at the Lewis Dome Tournament. GVSU improves to 3-2 to start the season. 
 
Winona State opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning with an RBI single to right field. GVSU quickly responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game on an Elizabeth Wesoloski single that scored Madelynn Pope. GVSU would take the lead in the third inning on a Jenna Ballard RBI single to center field that brought home Grace Usher. The Lakers would make it 3-1 in the fifth inning on an RBI double to center field by Usher that scored Pope all the way from first base. Winona State would get the tying run on base in the seventh, but Nevaeh Ingram would record the final three outs to secure the win.
 
Madelynn Pope led GVSU going 3-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Elizabeth Wesoloski and Jenna Ballard each went 2-3 with an RBI. Eliana Eiland notched two hits on the night, while Grace Usher recorded a double, one runs batted in, and a run scored. Nevaeh Ingram got the start in the circle and earned her first win of the season tossing all seven innings allowing just one run off seven hits with three strikeouts. 
 
The Lakers will be back on the diamond next week when they travel to Marion, Illinois for five neutral site games beginning with two games on Friday, February 27^th. GVSU will open the weekend against McKendree at 2:30 PM ET and Missouri – St. Louis at 5:00 PM ET.