ALLENDALE, Mich. - Monday afternoon saw the Panthers get a 7-5 win at Grand Valley State and take three-of-four in the series. The win keeps DU in first place in the GLIAC standings with four games remaining starting on Friday at home against Purdue Northwest. DU is now 26-20 overall and 14-6 in the GLIAC. Monday's matinee saw a pair of Grand Rapids West Catholic grads make big impacts.
Gaetano Vallone went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, and four RBI.
Spencer Vainavicz picked up the win in relief (5-1) going four innings and allowing just two hits and one run with six strikeouts.
Noah Marcoux went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two walks. He currently has 37 walks this season which trails the all-time single record by three.
Nolan Anspaugh went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a walk. He tripled to lead off the game and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
GVSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second as Spencer Nelson and Kyle Nott each had a RBI single. DU took a 3-2 lead in the top of the third as
Tyler Mosher singled with one out and Vallone hit a two-out, two-run homer to right.
The Lakers regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a fielding error which scored two runs with two outs. Vallone tied the game in the top of the fifth with a RBI double with two outs.
Christian Petre walked to start the inning and scored on the double.
Carson Fischer got the start for the Panthers and went five innings in the no-decision. He allowed nine hits and two earned runs with no walks and one punchout. Vainavicz entered in the sixth inning and set season highs with four innings pitched and six strikeouts.
Mark Scannell got the ball for GVSU and lasted into the seventh inning. He got two outs and then handed the ball over to Ben Thomas. Thomas inherited Anspaugh who walked as the last batter that Scannell faced. Anspaugh took second on a wild pitch and Vallone walked on four pitches. Marcoux then had a RBI single to left to plate Anspaugh for the 5-4 lead.
DU added two important runs in the top of the ninth for the 7-4 lead. Those runs came off Nick Shaw who had only allowed one earned run all season and that came all the way back on March 19 at McKendree. Anspaugh singled with one out and then advanced two bases on a wild pitch. With the infield drawn in, Vallone drove one through the right side for a RBI single and a 6-4 lead. Vallone then stole second and as he was stealing, the ball was wild and he advanced to third. Marcoux next hit a grounder to third but Vallone beat the throw to the plate for the 7-4 lead.
Grand Valley State got a run in the bottom of the ninth as Nathan Logan had a one-out RBI double to score Christian Faust who walked. Vainavicz struck out the final two batters to send the Panthers home happy. Vallone hit .500 (7-14) in the series with five runs scored and six RBI.
