In the Grand Valley State University baseball team’s sweep of Tiffin University on Saturday, sophomore first baseman Giancarlo Brugnoni stepped to the plate six times.

The first at bat was a triple, the first of his career, but the next four were of a more historic variety as Brugnoni smacked four home runs in four-consecutive at bats.

Behind the long ball and dependable pitching, the No. 20 Lakers (26-10 overall, 16-6 GLIAC) swept a four-game series against Tiffin University, winning both games of their doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at Laker Baseball Field, to push their winning streak to 11 games.

“The wind was blowing out to right field and as a team, our right-handed hitters really do a good job of staying back and trying to use the whole field,” said GVSU head coach Steve Lyon. “It was good to see double-figure runs every game. In three of the four games we scored at least four runs in the first inning which really makes the pitcher’s job easier.”

In Saturday’s contests, GVSU cruised to a 12-1 win in game one, and then followed that up with an 11-2 victory in the nightcap.

Brugnoni’s 3-for-3 performance in game one included three runs scored, five RBI and a new GVSU single-game record of 11 total bases, proved to be a big reason why the offense was firing on all cylinders.

Senior third baseman Brian Robinson chipped in two hits and an RBI, while freshman center fielder Mike Nadratowski had two hits, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

Senior Kyle Schepel earned his seventh win of the season on the mound, pitching five innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out five.

“It feels like we are playing with confidence,” Lyon said. “A lot of guys are contributing and our pitching is holding up. I am feeling a little more optimistic than I felt a couple of weeks ago, but I was never down on the team. They are just starting to gel.”

Senior Jared Cowan also added two hits, two runs, and three RBI to help Brugnoni pace the Laker offense in game two.

“I was feeling good and seeing the ball well,” Brugnoni said. “Now that we are rolling, we are just not stopping. Our pitching has been there all season, so as long as we stay consistent and keep hitting, we should be in good shape the rest of the way.”

On Sunday, the Lakers continued their winning ways, defeating the Dragons 11-4 in game one and holding on to win 12-6 in game two.

Cowan led the offense in the opener with three hits and two runs scored. Anderson had two hits, including a home run, while freshman shortstop Kevin Zak hit a three-run home run to go with senior Derrik Strzalkowski’s grand slam.

The offense continued its barrage in the final game of the series, exploding for 15 hits, including Brugnoni’s 11th home run of the season.

“We have done a really good job of doing the small things,” Cowan said. “I definitely think we have turned the corner. From one through nine, we are just starting to click. We just have to keep the momentum up.”

The Lakers continue GLIAC play with doubleheaders on the road this Saturday and Sunday against the University of Findlay.

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