Grand Valley State stuck to a common theme in Saturday afternoon's (Apr. 23) Senior Day doubleheader at home against visiting Walsh. The Lakers received strong pitching and timely hitting on Saturday, sweeping the Cavaliers by scores of 5-1 and 7-3.

It was the fifth straight GLIAC doubleheader in which GVSU has swept both games, extending the Lakers' winning streak to 11 straight contests, the longest stretch since the 2013 season. That team - which advanced to the College World Series - won 12 straight games from April 20 to May 4. The 2016 Lakers improves to 34-8 on the year and 19-5 in conference play. Walsh drops to 18-29 overall and 9-17 in league action.

Seniors McKenze Supernaw and Sara Andrasik celebrated in style on Senior Day, as the duo and senior rightfielder Chelsea Horvath were honored prior to the opening game. Supernaw went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader with five RBI, including a 3-for-3 effort in game two, notching a double and a big three-run homer to open up the game in the sixth inning.

Andrasik continued her stellar recent performances in the circle, firing a complete game six-hitter and moving to 12-2 on the season.

It was a day to honor the seniors, but a Grand Valley State junior and a sophomore also dominated the opening game. Junior Janae Langs began the game with a sharp leadoff single to center field on the first pitch from Walsh hurler Olivia Pifer. Langs immediately stole second base, which was followed by a single to right field from sophomore Kaylie Rhynard, who also stole second base.

With runners on second and third base, Supernaw came up two batters later and ripped a single off the first baseman's glove. Langs scored easily and when the ball rolled away from the Walsh defense, Rhynard rounded third and came in to score without a throw, putting the Lakers up 2-0.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the third inning on an RBI single from junior Kelsey Dominguez, which scored pinch runner Ali Vander Meer. 

There were two outs in the fourth frame when Langs and Rhynard struck again. Langs singled to center field and Rhynard legged out an infield single. Junior Jenna Lenza hit a hard hopper up the middle that was knocked down by the shortstop, but when Walsh was unable to make a play, Langs came around third and sprinted in for GVSU's fourth run of the contest.

It was 4-1 in the sixth inning when Langs reached on a well-placed bunt single. She stole second base and with two outs, Langs came home on a single to left field off the bat of Lenza for the game's final run.

In total, Langs and Rhynard had six of the Lakers' 11 base hits and four of the five runs. Langs was 3-for-4 with three runs and Rhynard was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Both players stole two bases, as Rhynard improves to 19-for-19 this season on stolen bases. Langs is 7-for-9 in theft attempts.

Lenza and Supernaw both went 2-for-3 in the opener, with each player collecting an RBI.

Andrasik was again strong, starting with a pair of strikeouts in the first inning and retiring the Cavaliers in order in the second and fourth frames. She allowed just a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning, keeping her from potentially her 17th career shutout. For the game, Andrasik gave up one run on six hits. She walked one batter and fanned four.

During the 11-game win streak, GVSU pitchers have allowed one run or fewer in eight of the 11 victories.

In game two, the Lakers scored a run in the first inning, marking the fourth straight game Grand Valley State has done so. Langs led off with an infield single, moved to second base on a Rhynard sacrifice and to third on a Lenza groundout. Supernaw delivered a run-scoring single to right center field, putting the Lakers on top 1-0.

Junior lefty Ellie Balbach stranded a pair of Walsh runners in the opening inning, as GVSU worked around a pair of fielding errors in the frame. The Lakers added another run in the second inning and Balbach ripped a single up the middle in the third inning to score Lenza, who led off the frame with a walk. It was 3-0 Lakers after three innings.

Walsh cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth on a two-out, two-run double from centerfielder Anna Anderson, but Balbach responded by helping out her own cause in the Lakers' next at-bat. Supernaw led off the fifth inning with a double to left center field, which was immediately followed by a double down the right field line from Balbach, putting Grand Valley State in front 4-2.

After Balbach retired the Cavaliers in order in the fifth, Supernaw busted the game open in the sixth inning. Rhynard and Lenza notched consecutive singles with two outs. Supernaw followed by crushing a three-run homer to left field, her sixth roundtripper of the season. The three-run dinger gave GVSU a 7-2 cushion.

The Cavaliers did manage a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Supernaw ended the contest with a nice running catch in foul territory to seal the victory.

Balbach moves to 5-2 by allowing three runs on seven hits. She walked one batter and notched six strikeouts. At the plate, she was 2-for-4 with a double and two ribbies.

Supernaw went 3-for-4 in game two with a double, a home run, and four RBI. She is now alone in 10th place in GVSU career history with 32 doubles and is just three homers shy of reaching the Laker top-10 in that category.

Langs, freshman Shannon Flaherty, and sophomore Teagan Shomin all collected two hits in game two, with Lenza scoring a pair of runs. Eight Lakers recorded a base hit in game two.

Grand Valley State closes out the regular season on Sunday (Apr. 24). The Lakers will face Hillsdale at 1:00 p.m. in Allendale. Both teams are 19-5 in GLIAC play and tied for second place in the conference standings. The 2016 GLIAC Tournament begins next Friday (Apr. 29) in Findlay, Ohio.