Grand Valley State University Athletics

Grand Valley State claimed the 2026 GLIAC Tournament title with a 12-3 victory over Davenport in the title game Sunday at UWM Field in Utica, Michigan. GVSU, 45-8, has now won 22 GLIAC Baseball Championships and 13 GLIAC Baseball Tournament titles. GVSU receives the NCAA automatic bid and will host an NCAA Regional starting Thursday (May 14). Stay tuned to GVSUlakers.com and all social media platforms for information regarding the regional.

Davenport built a 2-0 lead with runs in first and third innings, but the Lakers uncorked the offense in the bottom of the fourth with 10 runs on seven hits. 

1B Jovan Gill opened the inning with a single, followed by back-to-back walks to 3B Caleb Estrada and RF Josh Fleming. CF Jake Skaggs singled to right to drive in the first run for the Lakers and DH Will Bowen followed with a grand slam to right to give the Lakers a 5-2 lead. C Nick Krstich and LF Caden Thelen singled and SS Evan Morrison walked to load the bases. 2B Ayden VanEnkevort, who made a sensational defensive play in the top of the fourth, singled to right center to score Krstich and Thelen. Estrada walked and Fleming was hit by a pitch to score Morrison. Bowen hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Estrada to give GVSU a 10-run inning and build a 10-2 lead. Bowen tallied five RBI in the fourth inning with the grand slam and sacrifice fly.

GVSU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Thelen singled, moved to second on a Morrison groundout and went to third on a wild pitch. VanEnkevort scored Thelen on a groundout to shortstop and Gill then hit a solo shot to right to give GVSU a 12-2 lead. 

Zach Warren got the start on the mound, yielding two runs on four hits in three innings of work. Duncan McLaughlin picked up the win (4-0), yielding one run on four hits with two strikeouts. JJ Manion 

Every Laker that played a position scored a run. Bowen was 1-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBI, while VanEnkevort was 1-for-5 with three RBI. Skaggs was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Thelen was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Gill was 2-for-5 with a solo home run Fleming drew three walks.