It took a while for the Grand Valley State offense to get on track in Friday's (Apr. 3) doubleheader with rival Ashland, but the Lakers did so just in time, as GVSU managed a split with the visiting Eagles. Both games were decided in the seventh innings, as Ashland squeaked out a 1-0 victory in the opener. The Lakers scored the final five runs of game two to win, 5-2. 

Friday's twinbill came on the heels of GVSU's sweep over Wayne State on Tuesday. The Warriors advanced to the College World Series last season, while both Grand Valley State and Ashland competed in the NCAA Tournament that was held at Wayne State. Needless to say, Friday's games were an important mid-season showdown.

While Ashland was able to plate the game's only run in the top of the seventh inning of game one, the Lakers responded in game two. Trailing 2-0 going into the top of the sixth, GVSU cut the deficit in half and then plated four runs in the seventh frame. Freshman pitcher Courtney Reinhold sealed the win by working a 1-2-3 final inning.

With the split, Grand Valley State is 19-7 on the season and 5-2 in GLIAC play. Ashland is 21-5 overall and 6-4 in conference action. The Eagles started the year with a 17-1 tally before losing twice at Wayne State on Mar. 29.

Both Laker pitchers - junior righty Sara Andrasik tossed the opener - again threw well, but it was the heroics of sophomore Jenna Lenza that capped the split. GVSU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with one out and Lenza coming to the plate. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Lenza drove a pitch to right center field that rolled all the way to the fence.

Freshman Kaylie Rhynard (leadoff single), sophomore Janae Langs (bunt single), and sophomore Kelsey Dominguez (bunt single) all scored on Lenza's two-bagger, taking the 2-1 deficit and flipping that into a 4-2 lead. Two batters later, sophomore Ellie Balbach nearly homered over the right field fence, but the ball hit the fence and Balbach cruised into second base with an RBI double, as Lenza scored the game's final run.

Game one was a bit of an oddity, as the 1-0 contest took two hours and eight minutes to complete. The two pitchers - Andrasik and Ashland's Sarah Alley - combined to throw 312 pitches. Andrasik hurled 165 pitches and Alley tossed 147. There were a combined 24 runners left on base; 15 for Ashland, nine for GVSU. The offenses combined to total more walks (12) than base hits (11).

Ashland loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but Andrasik recorded a groundball and a strikeout to get out of the jam. Both teams left two runners on base in their next at-bat. In fact, Ashland left at least two runners on base in six of the seven innings.

The Lakers had a good scoring opportunity in the fourth inning. Lenza singled to lead off the inning and junior McKenze Supernaw walked. Both players were moved over on a Langs sacrifice bunt, but Alley notched a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.

Andrasik struck out the final batter of the Ashland fifth inning, leaving the bases loaded for the Eagles. The Lakers turned a clutch double play to end the sixth inning, as Lenza caught a line drive and flipped it to shortstop Teagan Shomin at second base for the twin killing. That carried over to the home half of the inning, where GVSU again threatened.

Supernaw singled to lead off the sixth inning. Two batters later, Balbach reached on an error by the AU left fielder, and freshman Heather Sperlazzo was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The Eagles, however, turned a solid 1-2-3 double play to keep the game scoreless.

Ashland would tally the game's only run in the seventh, as Ally Farrah's RBI single put the Eagles up 1-0. The run was unearned due to a Laker error, but the damage was done. GVSU was unable to score in the seventh, as the Eagles took game one.

Andrasik (6-4) battled through the windy weather to scatter nine hits and allowed the one unearned run. Ashland's Alley tossed a two-hitter, improving to 4-0 on the year. Both pitchers walked six batters and tallied five strikeouts. Alley also hit two Lakers.

In the nightcap, Ashland's first run scored on a wild pitch in the third inning, while the lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth inning on a run-scoring single. From there, Reinhold took control. She retired the final 11 batters she faced, not allowing a base runner in the fifth, sixth, or seventh innings and keeping the Lakers in the game.

GVSU rewarded Reinhold in the late innings. Shomin (leadoff single), Lenza (walk), and Supernaw (single) loaded the bases with one out. Balbach singled to left field to score Shomin and cut into Ashland's lead, making the deficit 2-1. The Lakers still had just one out, but Ashland's Amber McDermott worked out of the bases loaded jam to keep AU in front.

The seventh inning dramatics for Lenza were set up earlier in the frame. Rhynard led off with a sharp single to left field and became the tying runner. Langs put down a bunt in what appeared to be a sacrifice attempt, however the speedster reached first base anyway. Two batters later, Dominguez also put down a terrific bunt, which the Eagle catcher had trouble getting to, loading the bases in time for Lenza to clear them off with her go-ahead double.

Lenza (2-for-3, double, run, three RBI), Balbach (2-for-3, double, two ribbies), and Supernaw (2-for-4) all tallied multiple hits. The Lakers outhit Ashland, 10-4. 

Reinhold improved to 8-2 on the season. The rookie gave up four hits, two runs, and a walk, while striking out two batters. She recorded 14 outs via groundballs.

Grand Valley State continues its current eight-game homestand on Saturday, when the Lakers face Lake Erie in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.