SLUGGER ECLIPSES COACH’S HR RECORD

Senior first baseman Giancarlo Brugnoni of the Grand Valley State University baseball team became the all-time GLIAC home run leader on Saturday afternoon by hitting his 47th career homer in a 6-2 GLIAC Tournament win over Lake Erie College.

Brugnoni closed out the regular season needing just one roundtripper to tie the career record (46) set by GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion, a former standout at Ashland University from 1997-2000.

After tying the record in a 14-1 victory against Tiffin University on Friday, the De La Salle High School product deposited a three-run shot over the right-field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning the next day.

ARMSTRONG SIGNS WITH SAINTS

GVSU offensive lineman Matt Armstrong was not picked in the 2014 NFL Draft — but it didn’t take him long to find a home at the next level.

Armstrong agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints shortly after the draft concluded on Saturday night, and will now have a chance to block with former undrafted GVSU teammate and guard Tim Lelito, a potential starter with the Saints.

Armstrong, the 2014 Rimington Award winner as the top NCAA Division II center, was a two-sport standout in Allendale and started at least one game at every position on the offensive line.

HARTIGAN GOES LOW AGAIN

Junior Kelly Hartigan of the GVSU women’s golf team tied a pair of school records — single-season victories (seven) and career wins (11) — by claiming medalist honors Tuesday in the East Super Regional at the Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Ind.

Hartigan shot an impressive five-over par 221 as No. 24 GVSU finished in a first-place tie with No. 11 University of Indianapolis. She was the first Laker since 2009 (Allie Tyler) to record a victory at regionals.

The Lake Orion, Mich. native and her Laker teammates will return to action in the NCAA Division II National Championship from May 14-17 at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, N.C.

GLIAC SALUTES BRUGNONI, NIETFELDT, DETILLION

Eleven members of the No. 17 GVSU baseball team were awarded with All-GLIAC accolades on Wednesday after the team closed out its regular season with the best record in the conference (33-11).

Senior first baseman Giancarlo Brugnoni was named the “Player of the Year,” junior starter Evan Nietfeldt was tabbed as the “Pitcher of the Year” and head coach Jamie Detillion was the “Coach of the Year.”

Brugnoni and Nietfeldt were also named to the All-GLIAC First Team along with four junior teammates: starter Aaron Jensen, third baseman Aaron Overbeck, outfielder Jamie Potts, and second baseman Kevin Zak.

Three seniors — starter Sean Clancy, shortstop Stuart Eisler and closer Chris Ripple — were named to the second team, while senior catcher Taylor Banks and junior infielder Jesse Abel earned honorable mention plaudits.

BALTES ADDS OLYMPIAN TO COACHING STAFF

GVSU track and field/cross country head coach Jerry Baltes announced on Friday the addition of Olympian and Rockford High School product Dathan Ritzenhein to the Laker coaching staff.

Ritzenhein, a Nike sponsored athlete and three-time Olympic Team member, will assist with all aspects of the cross country teams and distance groups in track. He will join GVSU this summer.

SOFTBALL TEAM FALLS IN REGIONAL TOURNEY

The GVSU softball team was unable to protect its NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament title over the weekend as the Lakers were eliminated with a 7-3 loss to No. 13 University of Indianapolis.

GVSU started off with an 8-0 victory over UIndy, but ended its 2014 campaign with two straight losses on Saturday. The Lakers fell to Wayne State University 3-0 before dropping the rematch with UIndy 7-3.

Head coach Doug “Doc” Woods closed out his impressive 24-year career with 889 wins and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, while the senior class finished its run at GVSU with a 162-54 record.

NEUMEN GARNERS ALL-REGION LAURELS

On Friday, junior defender Alyssa Neumen of the GVSU lacrosse team became the first Laker in program history to earn a spot on the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-North Region Team.

Neumen, who was also tabbed as the GLIAC Defender of the Year for the second straight year, was awarded second-team plaudits on the all-region squad after helping the Lakers secure the outright GLIAC title in back-to-back seasons.