After every season, there are always signature wins that a team can point to that was a turning point in their season.

If the Grand Valley State University men’s baseball team strings together multiple wins and has a successful season, they may look at the second game in a doubleheader against Hillsdale College as their turning point.

Tied 1-1 heading into the top of the ninth inning, GVSU (10-8) got things started with a lead-off single from sophomore Kevin Zak. Junior Giancarlo Brugnoni was hit by a pitch when he was attempting a bunt, and then sophomore Jamie Potts laid down a bunt of his own. Hillsdale attempted to get Zak out while he tried advancing to third, but was unsuccessful. After a pitching change, Hillsdale was able to force an out, but sophomore Jesse Abel came to the plate to pinch-hit, and hit a deep fly ball to right center field to give himself a single and GVSU a 3-1 lead.

“I tried to get a good pitch to hit and try to lift something to the outfield to score the run from third,” Abel said. “It feels great. It’s a big morale boost for the whole team. I struggled the first game, so it’s a good lift for everybody.”

GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion was confident in calling Abel’s name late in the game. While Abel was hitless in the first game, Detillion saw things that gave him confidence Abel would be able to come through when it mattered most.

“Abel started playing really well last weekend and really solidified his spot as the DH,” Detillion said. “He had a couple good at-bats the first game, so we made the change in the second game. He’s a gritty player; he comes in and gets the job done. I had all the confidence in the world he would come in there and get a big hit.”

The Lakers pitching staff held Hillsdale in check throughout the game. Senior pitcher Anthony Campanella (3-1) worked eight innings, allowing five hits and one earned run, while striking out three. Senior closer Brad Zambron picked up his fourth save of the season, giving him 30 for his career – only two saves behind the NCAA Division II record.

“Campanella competed his butt off today and gave us his all pitching,” Brugnoni said.” He really stepped up and is one of our big leaders on our team.”

The win seemed even bigger given the fact GVSU blew a 4-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader, to snap their three game winning streak and receive their first loss in the GLIAC.

“We had a big lead in the first game and it was disappointing to give up six unanswered runs,” Detillion said. “We did a couple things that didn’t help us be able to compete. We did bounce back to compete in the second game. At worse, on the road you want to split for the two games. Hopefully we can win and move forward and gain some confidence.”

The game was originally scheduled to be the home season opener for GVSU, but the weather made the field not ready for play, forcing the Lakers to travel to Hillsdale.

GVSU will continue their season when they travel to the University of Findlay on Friday, where they will play three games over the weekend.

“We just have to stay in it,” Brugnoni said. “I think we’re gonna be fine. We can win almost every game. It’s just finishing games that we need to take care of.”
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