For the fourth time this season, the Grand Valley State pitching staff threw a pair of shutouts in a doubleheader sweep. And for the third time this season, senior Jenna Lenza ended a game with a walk-off home run. Combine the two and the Lakers have extended their winning streak to 15 games in a row with a 2-0 extra-inning win over Walsh on Sunday (Apr. 23), followed by a 3-0 victory in the nightcap.

GVSU is now 27-15 on the season and the Lakers remain in first place in the GLIAC standings with a 13-5 record. Walsh falls to 12-33 on the year and 2-18 in conference play. The Lakers sit one game ahead of Saginaw Valley State in the league standings, while Wayne State, Ohio Dominican, and Hillsdale are all two games back of Grand Valley State.

The 15 consecutive victories are the most by GVSU since the 2009 team rattled off 16 straight wins from Mar. 8-27 of that season. With the home wins, the Lakers are now 12-0 in Allendale this season. 

In addition to Sunday's pair of blankings against Walsh, Grand Valley State has also tossed two shutouts in doubleheader sweeps over Purdue Northwest (Mar. 19), Lewis (Mar. 28), and Aquinas (Apr. 18). Only the Purdue Northwest twinbill was on the road. Additionally, the Lakers began the season with two shutouts on Feb. 24 - albeit against separate opponents in Missouri S&T and Illinois-Springfield.

Game One (W, 2-0 - 8 innings)

The opener was a tremendous pitcher's duel between GVSU's Allison Lipovsky and Walsh's Olivia Pifer. The teams combined for just four hits in the opening seven innings. Junior Marianne Deppe's two-out single in the second inning was the first hit of the game and put runners on the corners, but a flyout ended the threat.

Walsh collected a bunt single in the third inning off of Lipovsky, which came moments after a one-out walk. That ended a streak of 22 consecutive batters to be retired by Lipovsky, dating back to the final five innings of Saturday's win over Lake Erie. Lipovsky struck out the next batter on three pitches and induced a flyout to escape any further trouble.

Senior Janae Langs doubled with one out in the third inning, but was stranded at second base. The Cavaliers put a runner on base with a one-out single in the fourth, but a popup on a bunt attempt and a swinging strikeout kept the game scoreless.

Neither team threatened much in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. In fact, Lipovsky retired all nine batters in those innings - with five strikeouts - and Pifer allowed a one-out single in the seventh inning, but notched a strikeout to push the game into extra innings.

Lipovsky continued to roll in the eighth inning, with a strikeout, flyout, and groundout marking 14 consecutive batters retired by the back-to-back-to-back GLIAC Pitcher of the Week. At the end of Saturday's win over Lake Erie, the righty retired 15 straight batters to end the game.

In the bottom of the eighth, Langs worked a four-pitch walk with one out and stole second base. Two batters later, Lenza ripped a 1-2 pitch down the left field line and the towering shot stayed just inside the foul pole for two-out, two-run, walk-off homer for the senior. It is the third time this season Lenza has tallied a walk-off home run, having also done so in a 3-2 win over Lewis on Mar. 10 and in a 1-0 home victory over Tiffin on Apr. 9.

Lipovsky continued her recent dominance, as she moved to 12-3 on the year. She threw 104 pitches over eight innings - the third time she has pitched into extra innings - and allowed only two hits and one walk. She fanned 13 batters - the sixth outing in a row she has fanned at least 10 hitters and the ninth time this season overall.

GVSU outhit Walsh, 4-2, as four Lakers had one hit apiece. Langs' double and Lenza's homer were the only extra base hits in the win.

Game Two (W, 3-0)

The nightcap was not as much of a pitcher's duel, although the Laker hurlers were near the top of their game in game two. GVSU's offense notched 12 base hits and scored single runs in the first, third, and seventh innings.

Langs led off the game with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice from junior Teagan Shomin. Lenza was issued a four-pitch walk and freshman Kelcie LaTour brought Langs around to score with a single up the middle to make it 1-0.

Grand Valley State added a run in the third. Shomin reached on a fielder's choice and Lenza singled to left field. LaTour then deposited a single into left field, which moved Shomin to third base, but when the Cavalier outfielder bobbled the ball, Shomin took off for home and scored for the 2-0 advantage. 

Junior pitcher Courtney Reinhold cruised through the first three innings, setting down all nine batters she faced, including strikeouts on the first batter of each inning. She did not allow a runner until a leadoff single in the fourth inning.

GVSU left the bases loaded in the fifth inning. In the bottom of the frame, Walsh put a runner on third base, but senior Kelsey Dominguez made a solid sliding catch in left field to end the frame and keep the Lakers in front, 2-0.

Junior Allie Grys relieved Reinhold after five strong innings and worked around a two-out bloop single in the sixth inning. 

The Lakers added a run in the seventh inning, as Lenza led off with a double to the left field wall. It was her 22nd two-bagger of the season, tying her with former Laker Katie Martin for not only the GVSU single season record, but also the GLIAC record for doubles in a season. Lenza would come home two batters later, as sophomore Shannon Flaherty doubled to right center, but was thrown out at third base trying to stretch the double into a triple.

Grys made the 3-0 cushion stand up. She went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning to earn her second collegiate save. The junior transfer allowed one hit in two innings of relief.

Reinhold moved to 6-4 on the year with five strong innings of three-hit ball. She struck out four batters during her 58-pitch effort and did not issue a walk.

LaTour led the Laker offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Lenza (2-for-2, double, two walks) and Langs (2-for-4) also collected multiple hits. Flaherty and Dominguez doubled, as the Lakers held a 5-0 edge in extra base hits in the twinbill.

Grand Valley State closes out the home portion of its 2017 regular season schedule against Ferris State on Friday (Apr. 28). The Lakers will travel to Saginaw Valley State on Sunday (Apr. 30) for a crucial doubleheader with the Cardinals. 

The 2017 GLIAC Tournament is May 5-7 in Findlay, Ohio.