CALEDONIA, Mich. -
Anthony Aloisio provided the late-game heroics on Wednesday night in a 6-5 win over visiting Grand Valley State in the first of six games between the teams. With a tie game at 2-2 into the bottom of the eighth inning, Aloisio launched a three-run home run for his sixth of the season which gave DU a 5-2 lead.
Connor Hnilo walked to start the rally and then Will Goebel came into pitch for the Lakers. Goebel had allowed just one home run all season but hit
Josh Robinson with a pitch and then surrendered the go-ahead blast to left field.
Coltrane Rubner doubled to right center and
Xander Reisbig walked to send Goebel out of the game. Logan Wynalda kept the score 5-2 with three outs which would prove important heading into the ninth inning.
Jack Snow got the first out and
Brayden Flanders got a strikeout for two quick outs. The final out though proved to be very difficult as Flanders walked three straight batters all on full counts. He then hit Jake Rydquist with a pitch to force in the Lakers' third run. He walked Ayden VanEnkevort on yet another full count for the fourth run and hit Ryan Dykstra on the first pitch he saw to tie the game at 5-5.
Tyler Kapa came in to put out the fire on three pitches as he struck out Connor Schuman to keep it tied heading into the bottom of the ninth. Hnilo had an infield single with one out and Robinson struck out but Hnilo stole second on the third strike and took third on a throwing error. Aloisio sent the Panthers home happy with a 2-0 count walk-off single up the middle to score Hnilo easily for the 6-5 triumph.
Isaac Van Dyke and
Cade Kontny pitched eight combined innings and each allowed just one run. Kontny had a season-high, four-inning performance and struck out three. Allan Thorington got the start for the Lakers and lasted four innings. He gave up one earned run and fanned a pair of Panthers. Owen Avery tossed three innings and allowed two hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. Kapa improved to 1-2 with the win and Wynalda is now 0-4 on the season.
The Panthers will now start a four-game series against Wayne State at home beginning on Friday at 4:00 PM.  The Warriors took both games of a doubleheader earlier this season on Mar. 23 by scores of 12-0 and 6-2 in Hammond, Ind.
