After a big weekend at home, the Grand Valley State University softball team has proven once again that, despite having a few minor things to work on in practice, the team is more than prepared to take on all competitors.

The team faced off against Ferris State University in a pair of doubleheaders at home this weekend. Of the four games, the Lakers won the first three before dropping the final game to visiting Ferris State.

“Ferris is a good hitting team,” said GVSU head coach Doug Woods. “We managed to keep them off stride on Saturday and for the first of Sunday’s games. They pulled ahead for part of it, but our team hung in there. We just dug too big of a hole during the last game, we couldn’t get out of it. They just kept attacking the ball and they did well.”

On Saturday, the Lakers got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first inning and maintained their lead, adding two more runs in the fifth. While Ferris State scored one run in the top of the sixth, it was not enough in the 3-1 victory for GVSU.

During game two, the Bulldogs gained a run early in the first before the Lakers answered and added another in the fourth to close the game, 2-1.

“We generally hit pretty well, so we have a lot of confidence that way,” Woods said. “Even when we’re behind, we manage to hang on.”

On Sunday, the Lakers lagged behind Ferris State, who led 7-5 at the bottom of the sixth, before Briauna Taylor hit a home run that allowed GVSU to tie the game. One more run in the seventh ended the game in a Laker victory, 8-7.

“It was what we expected,” said pitcher Andrea Nicholson. “Ferris is always a tough team to play. You can always expect them to play well and be well coached. Any time you play the same team so many times, you start to get to know them. Both teams played well.”

During the second game, the Bulldogs returned with better hitting and pitching, scoring six runs in the bottom of the second. While the Lakers managed to hold their own, it was not enough to match Ferris’ lead, and the game ended in a victory for the visitors, 11-6.

“It’s always tough playing the same team four times,” said Taylor. “I think we were successful and we fought back. It would have been nice to win all four, but we’ll take three.”

Despite the vast number of games the team is scheduled to play this season, the Lakers are not slowing down in the slightest. In fact, the team welcomes a chance to engage in the sport that they are passionate about.

“You spend all of the off-season waiting for this time of year,” Nicholson said. “In that way, the fast-paced games are more exciting than anything.”

The Lakers will host Hillsdale College for a double header on Wednesday, which will begin at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.

“We went 5-1 in league this week, that’s pretty good,” Woods said. “We just have to forget this last game and move on. We’re 10-2 in league, so we’re in pretty good shape at this point.”

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