#7 Grand Valley State pounded out 22 hits en route to a 16-1 victory over Purdue Northwest in opening round action at the 2026 GLIAC Tournament. The top-seeded Lakers will play the loser of the Saginaw Valley State vs. Davenport contest Friday at 3 p.m. All the action is being played at UWM Field in Utica, Mich.
Purdue Northwest started strong as SS Brayden Barrett hit a solo home run on the sixth pitch of the game and the Pride then recorded two more singles in the first. However, that would be all that starting pitcher
Collin Bradley would yield for the remainder of his time on the mound. Bradley did not give up a hit and retired the final 11 batters he faced in order. The senior, who improved to 10-0 on the year and picked up his 24
th career win, struck out eight and walked just one in seven innings of work.
The Lakers answered quickly in the bottom of the first. Senior 2B
Ayden VanEnkevort doubled with one out and senior 1B
Jovan Gill singled home VanEnkevort to tie the game at 1-1. Gill's RBI was his 73
rd of the season, moving him into a tie for the GVSU single-season lead with former Laker Tim Hudnall (2004).
RF
Josh Fleming and C
Noah Brandt opened the fourth inning with singles and CF
Jake Skaggs followed with a double that plated Fleming. LF
Caden Thelen scored Brandt from third with a groundout to up the lead to 3-1.
3B
Caleb Estrada homered to center with two outs to start the five-run, fifth inning. Fleming reached on an error and the Lakers then produced five consecutive singles that scored four runs. Skaggs plated a run with a single, DH
Will Bowen scored two with a single to left and Morrison plated a run with a bunt single.
GVSU then plated seven in the bottom of sixth. Estrada walked with one out, followed by singles off the bat of Fleming and Brandt. Bradt plated a run with his single, Bowen walked with the bases loaded and Morrison singled with the bases loaded to score two runs. VanEnkevort drove in a run with a single to center and Gill then set the GVSU single-season RBI record with a 2-run single to right.
Bowen opened the top of the eighth with a double to left and Gill delivered a double to left center to score Bowen.
Gill was 3-for-5 with four RBI, while Bowen was 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Skaggs was 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, Morrison was 3-for-5 with two RBI and VanEnkevort was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Estrada was 1-for-5 with a solo home run and Thelen was 1-for-5 with an RBI and run scored.
Lukas Brewer pitched two scoreless innings in relief for the Lakers.
