CALEDONIA, Mich. - The scoring happened early and late on Friday afternoon and the final result was a 3-2 walk-off win over Grand Valley State. The Lakers scored twice in the first inning and DU answered with one run. That scored stayed until the Panthers scored once in the eighth and then again in the ninth for their eighth straight win.
Carson Fischer and Nick Rutkowski dueled back and forth for eight innings on the mound. Fischer gave up the two runs in the first as the first run scored on a double play attempt. The throw from second to complete the double play was wild and Kyle Nott scored. Brendan Guciardo later singled through the left side to score Conner McCormack for the 2-0 lead.
The Panthers cut the lead in half in their half of the first inning as
Khale Showers had a RBI single to left allowing
Coltrane Rubner to score. Rubner led off with a single to left and took second on a walk to
Gaetano Vallone.
The Lakers got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning as
Carson Price was hit by a pitch with two outs.
Michael Tchavdarov singled off the pitcher's glove and Rubner singled to right field. Vallone grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Panthers likewise had a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning and Fischer allowed no runs. McCormack singled with one out and Guciardo walked with two outs. Justin Mansager loaded the bases with a single to third just beating the throw to first. Ayden VanEnkevort grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The Panthers tied it up in the eighth as Showers singled to left and
Carter Troncin moved him over with a bunt.
Tyler Mosher hit a ball up the middle and it ate up VanEnkevort at shortstop for an error allowing Showers to score. The tying runs were stranded on second and third.
Spencer Vainavicz entered in place of Fischer in the ninth and struck out two batters in a perfect 1-2-3 inning. Logan Wynalda replaced Rutkowski in the ninth and got a strikeout of Rubner. However, Vallone ripped a triple down the right field line with one out and then
Ben Mets and Showers were walked intentionally to force an out at any base. Troncin played the hero with an infield single to third on a high chopper and the throw came home too late as Vallone slid into home with the winning run.
Fischer and Rutkowski each pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits. Fischer walked two and struck out five, while Rutkowski also walked two and struck out five. Vainavicz improved to 3-2 with the win while Wynalda falls to 1-2. Rubner finished 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot. Showers went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Tchavdarov batted 2-for-4 in the ninth spot. McCormack and Jonas Gulbrandsen each had two hits for the Lakers.
The two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader in Allendale tomorrow at 11 AM.
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