Things just aren’t going the right way for the Grand Valley State University baseball team, and that was made apparent this weekend. Despite a sub-.500 opponent in Lake Erie College, GVSU dropped three of four in its series this weekend.

The Lakers (11-7, 1-3 GLIAC) struggled at the plate, but it was their defense — the team committed seven errors on Sunday alone — that proved most detrimental in the team’s effort against Lake Erie (6-9, 3-1 GLIAC).

Lake Erie jumped on the Lakers in the early game on Saturday, shutting down the GVSU offense en route to a 1-0 victory.

The win not only ended the Lakers’ four-game winning streak, but also denied senior pitcher Kyle Schepel — who threw six innings of one-run ball, albeit with five walks to go with six strikeouts — a chance at passing former Laker Joe Jablonski at the top of the career wins list.

“I’m not really worried about our team, not with our record right now — the wins will come,” said Schepel, who lost his first decision since the 2010 season. “You have got to have confidence in your team, the ball isn’t going to bounce your way every single time.”

That short memory proved true in the nightcap as eight Lakers knocked in at least one run in the 11-1 win. Senior Ryan Garman led the charge from the mound, combining with senior Chris Whitney to hold the Storm to one run on four hits.

GVSU’s offense was led by junior shortstop Stephen Claypool, a transfer from Ball State University, who went 2-for-3 with three runs scored to go with his first home run of the season.

“I think were going to sit on this one, I want the guys to think about it,” Lyon said. “(Lake Erie) was a little more gritty and hungry, that’s how they ended up wining three of four. We have to let it hurt a little bit.”

The opening day loss snapped a streak of seven-straight home-opening wins and matched the Lakers’ home loss total from all of last season.

Sunday’s double-header began eerily similar to Saturday as the teams battled in a pitcher’s duel, one eventually won by the Storm.

Offense was at a premium, and two of Lake Erie’s four runs came via GVSU error. First baseman Giancarlo Brugoni struggled in the contest, committing a pair of errors, including a botched throw that led to the Storm taking 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth.

The sophomore scored the game-tying run in the sixth inning off a one-out single passed the short stop by senior catcher Jared Cowan, but extra innings saw the Lakers again falter, this time on a throwing error by Cowan that led to the eventual winning run by Lake Erie and sealing the 4-2 defeat.

“I’m real concerned about our defense, I think again, it reared its ugly head again today,” Lyon said. “We certainly had some defensive lapses that cost us big time — it’s been a continued concern.”

The team’s defensive issues marred the nightcap as the Lakers dropped a 8-6 decision. Brugoni led the Lakers with a solo home run and Claypool smacked a game-tying three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth, but the team’s errors again stunted the effort.

“We’re just not getting the big hit and things aren’t falling our way offensively,” said senior outfielder Steve Anderson. “We’ll see if we can turn it around next week.”

The Lakers will be off until Saturday when they open a four-game set against Ashland University at the GVSU Baseball Field.

[email protected]