The #7 nationally ranked Grand Valley State softball team fell in a pair of close games to start the team's annual Spring Break trip in Clermont, Fla. on Sunday evening (Mar. 5). GVSU's late rally fell short against Minnesota Duluth in the opener, 8-6, and the Lakers were unable to hold onto an early lead against Notre Dame (Ohio), getting edged out by a 5-4 final.
 
Grand Valley State started the year indoors last weekend, going 3-1 at the Lewis Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Ill., earning shutouts in all three victories. However, the Lakers had a tough start to their 12-game, seven-day trip to Florida, dropping two close contests to begin the week.
 
On Monday (Mar. 6), GVSU will face Holy Family at 3:30 p.m., with a big regional game against Southern Indiana at 8:30 p.m.
 
Game One - Minnesota Duluth (L, 8-6)
 
Minnesota Duluth scored the game's first seven runs, scoring three runs in the first inning, another tally in the second, and three more in the fourth frame. Those Bulldog runs came off transfer Allie Grys, who was lifted for junior Courtney Reinhold in fourth inning.
 
The Lakers were one run shy of falling due to a mercy rule, but GVSU mounted a comeback. Sophomore Shannon Flaherty tripled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Kelcie LaTour to make it a 7-1 game. UMD added a run in the fifth before Grand Valley State plated three runs in the home half of the inning.
 
Junior Teagan Shomin notched a one-out single and senior Kelsey Dominguez reached on an error in the fifth. Senior Jenna Lenza brought in both runners with a two-run double to center field, making the score 8-3. Flaherty's RBI single scored Lenza for a 8-4 deficit.
 
Leading off the sixth, LaTour belted a solo homer - her first collegiate roundtripper - to make it an 8-5 game. Senior Ellie Balbach also homered with two outs in the seventh inning, but the solo shot could only pull the Lakers within a run at 8-6, as Minnesota Duluth prevailed with the win despite GVSU scoring five of the game's final six runs. Now 4-5 on the year, UMD outhit the Lakers, 14-10.
 
Flaherty went 3-for-4 with a triple, a run, and an RBI. LaTour and Lenza each collected two hits and drove in two runs, while it was the first homer of the year for both LaTour and Balbach. Six Lakers crossed home plate once each.
 
Grys (1-1) takes the loss, as she allowed seven runs (five earned) in three innings in the circle. She gave up 10 hits and two walks, while striking out three. In relief, Reinhold allowed one earned run on four hits in four innings, also walking two and tallying three strikeouts.
 
Game Two - Notre Dame College (L, 5-4)
 
GVSU's offense continued where it left off, as the Lakers scored three runs in the top of the first inning against the Falcons. Shomin led off the game with a single and immediately scored on a Dominguez triple for the first run of the contest. Lenza then reached on a fielder's choice, which brought in Dominguez for a 2-0 lead. After moving to third base on a Flaherty single, Lenza scored on a LaTour sacrifice fly to open up a 3-0 cushion.
 
Balbach was in the circle for the Lakers and the lefty allowed a harmless two-out double for the only hit allowed in the first two innings. The Falcons were able to push across a run in the third and tied the game at 3-3 on a fielder's choice and an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth frame.
 
In the top of the fifth, Dominguez led off with a single and moved to third base with one out. Flaherty grounded out back to the pitcher, but Dominguez was still able to score to put GVSU back in front by a 4-3 edge.
 
Consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly from Notre Dame College in the bottom of the fifth inning knotted the score again at 4-4. After another single put runners on the corners with one out, Reinhold again entered in relief and induced a strikeout and groundout to escape the jam and keep the game tied.
 
The Falcons were able to plate the go-ahead run on a bases loaded groundout in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 5-4 advantage. In the top of the seventh, Dominguez reached on a one-out error and moved to third base on a Balbach single, putting runners on the corners with two outs. However, NDC tallied a game-ending groundout to finish the game and preserve the win.
 
Despite allowing one run on two hits in 1.2 innings in relief, Reinhold (0-2) was saddled with the loss. She totaled a pair of strikeouts. Balbach started and went 4.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out two batters.
 
Dominguez and Flaherty each went 2-for-4, with Dominguez crossing home plate twice and tallying a triple. The Lakers were outhit by Notre Dame College, 10-7, but did not commit an error in the contest.