XENIA, Ohio -- The second-seeded Wayne State University baseball team (31-18) fought hard against fifth-seeded Grand Valley State (30-21) in the opening round of the 2017 GLIAC Tournament on Thursday but the Lakers were able to pull off the upset, 2-1.  Senior starting pitcher Chris Horvath (Lakeshore, Ont.) (5-4) was brilliant in the pitchers' dual, going eighth and 2/3 innings with six strikeouts but was saddled with the tough-luck loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- From the first pitch it was evident that runs were going to be at a premium as GVSU's Ryan Arnold was matching Horvath pitch-for-pitch.  In what was a high quality at-bat, Justin Sherman (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Pioneer) drew a walk to become WSU's first base runner in the top of the third inning and later scored on a Jeremy Carrell (St. Clair, Mich.) RBI double down the right field line.

- After Horvath retired the first batter of the fourth inning, a throwing error allowed Matt Williams to reach and advance second base.  Austin LaDoux gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead with a two-run home run to left on Horvath's only mistake of the day.

- Both pitchers would continue to be sharp as Horvath would retire 15 straight batters at one point.  The Warriors threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth as Brad Baldwin (Troy, Mich. / Bishop Foley Catholic) drew a walk and JT Conti (Trenton, Mich.) singled through the right side.  However, GVSU would collect the final out needed to secure the victory and advance.

ON THE MOUND
- Horvath posted the longest outing of his career, allowing just one earned run over eight and 2/3 innings and did not issue a walk to GVSU.  Nolan Dill (Bowling Green, Ohio) collected the final out in the top of the ninth inning.

UP NEXT
- Wayne State will look to avoid elimination against Hillsdale on Friday morning.  First pitch is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.