In the Grand Valley State women’s softball team’s first tournament of the season, the Lakers walked away with three wins in four games.

During their trip to Rosemont, Illinois—the home of the Lewis Dome Tournament—the Lakers got another taste of early-season action Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24, competing in a doubleheader both days.

The Lakers opened up their weekend Friday by taking on No. 19 ranked Winona State. After a single by Kelcie LaTour helped both Kaylie Rhynard and Teagan Shomin score in the first inning, the Lakers took a 2-0 lead. The Lakers weren’t done yet, as Taylor Rieger had an RBI single of her own to help LaTour. By the end of the first, GVSU had built a 3-0 lead.

The Lakers would continue to pile on runs in the second inning. Nikoma Holmen brought in a run on an error by the shortstop, and Shannon Flaherty hit a fielder’s choice that resulted in another run for the Lakers. The fourth inning was the last inning that saw scoring from the Lakers. Holmen added another RBI to her game with a single that helped Rhynard score, and Flaherty did the same, hitting an RBI single that brought in Jenna Czart. 

The Lakers won the game 7-0. 

Allison Lipovsky stood out as the star for the Lakers, taking to the circle and dominating all game. She pitched all seven innings, allowing only one hit and striking out eight batters. 

Hours later, GVSU faced host Lewis University. Rhynard opened up scoring with an RBI triple to help Shomin score. Rhynard would go on to score on a throwing error by the catcher, giving GVSU a two-run lead after one inning. 

That lead would stay until the fourth inning when Shomin would hit an RBI single, helping Bailey Thatcher score. LaTour followed that up with an RBI single, helping Tanner Kiessel score, and Holmen reached on an error by the third baseman that enabled Shomin to score. Lewis responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Lakers would go on to win 5-2. 

With this win, freshman pitcher Hannah Beatus won her first game as a Laker after going seven innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) and striking out five batters. 

On Saturday, GVSU played the University of Illinois Springfield. Unfortunately, the Lakers stumbled out of the gate and couldn’t get the bats going in this one. UIS scored two runs early on Lipovsky. The Lakers wouldn’t score until the third inning on a sacrifice fly by LaTour, but UIS would counter with two more runs of their own in the bottom of that inning. GVSU wouldn’t score again until the fifth on an RBI fielder’s choice by Rhynard. Kiessel scored on the play, but the Lakers would end up dropping this game 5-2.

Lipovsky started the game for the Lakers and went six innings, giving up five hits and five runs (two earned) and striking out eight batters. 

GVSU would, however, finish their weekend strong against Missouri University of Science and Technology. Missouri S&T scored the first run in the top of the first inning, but the Lakers retaliated with three of their own. Holmen had an RBI single that helped Shomin scored. Rieger reached on an error that would plate two runs. 

The Lakers scored three more in the second when Shomin singled in Thatcher and LaTour singled in Rhynard and Shomin. Missouri S&T scored one in the third to make it 6-2 Lakers, but Rhynard would add another in the bottom of that inning, singling in Thatcher. Rhynard did it again in the fifth with a single and a score by Kayla Plastiak. Thatcher would hit in the last run for the Lakers with an RBI single, bringing in Rieger. 

GVSU would go on to win this game 9-3. 

Allie Grys got her first win of the season pitching all seven innings, giving up six hits and three runs (two earned) and striking out nine. 

The Lakers head back home with three wins under their belt and an overall strong weekend as a team. They will not be back in action again until their spring trip when they travel Clermont, Florida, to play in a handful of games over spring break.