The Grand Valley State baseball team won both games of a Wednesday doubleheader on the road against the Ashland Eagles Wednesday, April 19 by scores of 11-7 and 14-8. With the victories, the Lakers have swept the season series with Ashland after winning two games the previous week at home.

GVSU (24-14, 12-8 GLIAC) scored in every frame except for the first and sixth innings during game one, including a 9-2 stretch between the second and fifth.

Tate Brawley (5-0) collected the victory, finding his form after allowing two first inning runs. He pitched six innings, allowing four runs on six hits and racking up five strikeouts.

“It felt good. The first inning was a little rough for me. I settled in and mixed up my pitches well and trusted my defense behind me,” Brawley said. “I just settled down and started working guys back, mixing it inside and out with my fastball. It surprised them, they weren’t’ really ready for it.”

In game two, AU jumped out to an early 4-2 advantage, but a monster fourth inning yielded ten runs for the Lakers, aided by a pair of two-run bombs from Seth Johnson and Anthony Villar.

“We had a slow start to the first game but in the second inning of the first game we started putting good swings on them. It was just a carry-over of what we were doing all day long,” said GVSU coach Jamie Detillion. “Everything was rolling and we put some balls in the gap, guys were doing their jobs. The hitters executed and put runs on the board. It was a huge inning.”

Noah Lamboley (5-1) secured the win, throwing five innings and allowing five earned runs while compiling one strikeout with no walks. The bullpen slammed the door shut on the Eagles, pitching four innings and allowing three runs while striking out six. Brendan Nearing threw two scoreless innings, punching out four batters and walking none.

The Lakers had 16 base hits in the second matchup including seven for extra bases. GVSU totaled 25 runs on 29 hits in the two games–the most in a single doubleheader all year for both totals.

“I think that it was just everybody trusting each other, knowing that nobody had to get the big hit made it easier to get the big hit, if that makes sense,” said Josh Smith, who contributed five hits and four RBIs. “We trusted each other to do our jobs and once you take that pressure off yourself, knowing you don’t have to be this big hero, everyone steps in and plays their role.”

With the wins, the Lakers remain tied for fourth in the GLIAC with Tiffin and four games back of Walsh and Northwood.

“It really doesn’t matter who we play, it’s all about us. I think we’re a pretty confident team and when we execute quality pitches in the right count, we’ve got the talent to win,” Detillion said. “I feel this should be the norm, it doesn’t matter who’s in the other dugout.”

Next up, GVSU will hit the road for a four game home-and-home with the Hillsdale Chargers (19-19, 12-11) beginning Saturday, April 22. Both teams will head to Allendale for two more Sunday, April 23.