The Grand Valley State University baseball team found a way to bring the thunder during another rain-shortened week of spring baseball.

After a 6-0 win over Northwood University on Tuesday, the Grand Valley State University baseball team broke out with 15 hits in a 12-5 victory over Saginaw Valley State University, pushing it’s record to 19-12 this season.

“Hitting is contagious,” said GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion. “It radiates off to teammates. We were able to take a good round of batting practice which has really carried over into the past few games. We need to get onto our field and get reps. It’s been the story of our season.”

The team has cancelled four games in the past week due to inclement weather, and has practiced inside for most of the 2013 season.

On Tuesday, it was the lightning of senior pitcher Anthony Campanella that propelled the Lakers.

Campanella (4-3) silenced the Northwood bats by giving up only two hits over eight scoreless innings of work. He threw 99 pitches while striking out six and retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced.

“It was nice to be able to get into a rhythm,” he said. “I was throwing all three pitches for strikes and was able to get ahead in the count.”

After recording an RBI in the bottom of the second to give the team a 2-0 lead, junior first baseman Giancarlo Brugnoni added two more when he ripped a double down the left field line with two outs to put the Lakers up by five. Brugnoni scored to make it a 6-0 game when sophomore Jesse Abel hit a ball into right field that was dropped by a Northwood player.

Senior closer Brad Zambron pitched a scoreless ninth inning to end the game, pushing the team’s record to 18-12.

“If we keep this momentum going we’re going to be a tough team to beat,” said junior catcher Taylor Banks. “We haven’t hit the ball as well as a team in the last few games, but it’s a lot easier to hit when everyone else is hitting. There’s a lot of energy in the dugout.”

The energy carried over into Wednesday’s game against SVSU, when the Lakers used a six-run second inning to take control of the game. The team led 7-3 after two against its cross-state rivals.
GVSU wasn’t done showing off its offensive firepower.

Banks blasted a leadoff homer in the third to make it an 8-3 ballgame, which highlighted a big day for the Louisville, Ky. native. He finished the day going 3-for-3 with three hits, three runs and two RBI. Junior shortstop Stuart Eisler also went yard in the fifth inning, scoring Banks and sophomore Mike Nadratowski.

Junior pitcher Sean Clancy picked up the win (3-4), pitching five innings while giving up as many runs on eight hits. Zambron pitched two scoreless innings to secure a 12-5 victory for GVSU.

“This is the point in the season where we get this thing rolling,” Campanella said. “I think we’re about to take off.”

The second game against Saginaw Valley State was cancelled tue to the weather. No make-up date has been set and it is unclear if they game will be made-up or not.

The Lakers will return to action at home on Saturday, when they welcome Lake Erie College to Allendale for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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