After a stretch of tightly contested losses earlier in the week, No. 10 Grand Valley State baseball (18-4) bounced back Friday with a statement in Florida.
The Lakers picked up a pair of wins in Daytona Beach, Florida, defeating Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (10-12) 4-2 in 11 innings before rolling past Middle Georgia State University (11-19) 13-0 later in the day. The victories pushed GVSU to 18-4 on the season and showcased the team’s ability to respond to adversity heading into conference play.
Head coach Jordan Keur emphasized that resilience has been a point of focus for his team all season, especially after dropping three, one-run games earlier in the week.
“We lost three, one-run games, so the thing that we talk about is always giving ourselves a chance to win,” Keur said. “You can learn from those things and correct them. I think we did that today.”
Game one against Embry-Riddle tested that mindset, as the Lakers demonstrated extra-inning grit.
The Lakers took an early lead in the fourth inning when junior third baseman Caleb Estrada launched a solo home run for his eighth of the season, then extended it to 2-0 in the sixth. Freshman designated hitter Kaden Howard worked a walk, advanced to third on an Estrada single and scored on a sacrifice bunt from senior center fielder Jake Skaggs.
The momentum shifted late when Embry-Riddle tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings. Instead of folding, GVSU responded.
Senior first baseman Jovan Gill opened the 11th with a single before sophomore Nolan Alvord entered as a pinch runner. Estrada delivered again, ripping a triple to drive in the go-ahead run, and Skaggs followed by bringing Estrada home, extending the lead to 4-2. Junior bullpen piece Zach Warren shut the door with a hitless bottom half of the inning, securing the win.
Keur credited his team’s composure in high-pressure moments as a key factor.
“We gave up the lead late, but we got out of that inning and held the line,” Keur said. “Then, our offense came through. It’s those little details — base running, defense, making a pitch. That makes the difference.”
While the offense delivered in clutch moments, the foundation of the win was another dominant outing from senior right-hander Collin Bradley. Bradley tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just six hits while striking out three. He has now thrown 16 consecutive scoreless innings, and has only allowed two unearned runs over his last 24.1 innings pitched.
Keur described Bradley as the type of pitcher every team relies on at the top of its rotation.
“That’s everything you want out of a Friday guy,” Keur said. “He competes in the zone and gives you a chance to win every single game.”
Bradley’s performance is even more impressive considering his two-and-a-half-year journey back to the mound after battling injuries earlier in his career.
“To see what he’s doing now is really impressive,” Keur said. “He went through adversity and to see him put it all together is really cool.”
Game one was about resilience. Game two was all about dominance. The Lakers erupted for four runs in the first inning, taking advantage of Middle Georgia State’s defensive miscues. They added four more in the second and three in the third to quickly build a double-digit lead. Skaggs continued his strong day at the plate, finishing with three RBIs and two runs scored, while freshman Josh Fleming drove in two runs on a 2-for-3 performance. Left fielder Caden Thelen also added two hits and two RBIs.
On the mound, JJ Manion delivered a near-flawless performance, allowing just one hit over five innings while striking out four. The combination of early offense and shutdown pitching allowed GVSU to cruise to a 13-0 victory and complete the sweep on the day.
Estrada and Skaggs played a major role in both wins, setting the tone offensively and delivering in key moments.
“When Caleb and Skaggs are going, it’s fun to watch,” Keur said. “They can do some damage when they’re locked in.”
Estrada finished game one 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, including the go-ahead triple in extra innings. Keur noted that Estrada’s approach at the plate has been key to his recent success.
“He was seeing the ball well and not trying to do too much,” Keur said. “He’s starting to unlock that power while still hitting for average.”
Skaggs, meanwhile, continues to emerge as one of the team’s most dynamic players.
“He’s got the potential to be a really special player, and he’s been playing that way for us,” Keur said.
With conference play approaching, Keur believes the focus remains on consistency in the fundamentals that have defined the team’s identity.
“It’s about continuing to stress the little things — running the bases, playing defense, filling up the zone,” Keur said. “If we limit free bases, we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win every game.”
