From Friday, April 12 to Saturday, April 13, it looked as if the troubles that have been plaguing this Grand Valley State baseball team are in the past, as the Lakers swept Wisconsin-Parkside across two doubleheaders over the weekend.

According to GVSU head coach Jamie Detillion, this success is what his team is capable of looking like when they play at their best.

“It was good to see the guys put it all together this weekend,” Detillion said. “The guys swung the bats well and the pitchers set the tone by pitching extremely well.”

Detillion said the pitchers’ success is due to a renewed focus on video in the classroom over the past week on top of a greater focus during practice from the entire team.

“We have some great guys and they are committed to getting better,” Detillion said. “It showed out there on the field and we’re playing a lot better now.”

Game One — 4/12: GVSU won their first game against Wisconsin Parkside by a school record margin, 22-1 – the fourth 20-plus run win in program history.

Cade Cintorino threw a three-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts for the Lakers while most of GVSU’s lineup enjoyed a successful day at the plate.

Joe Laudont went 3-3 with three RBI and a home run, while Chase Carpenter went 4-4 with a triple and three RBI as well. Cam Brayman and Nate Bonter also contributed two hits and two runs scored a piece.

“We’ve been taking our intent very seriously the last couple of weeks,” Bonter said. “Then we came out today and we basically saw the ball and hit the ball today and we performed really well.”

Game Two — 4/12: The Lakers faced a much more resilient Wisconsin Parkside team in their 7-3 nightcap win. The Rangers came out swinging early with two runs in the top of the first only for Drake Ellens to hit a three run home run in the bottom of the first to take the lead.

The Rangers scored again in the top of the second to tie the game up at 3-3. Nate Bonter then replied with a three run bomb of his own to secure the lead for the Lakers for the rest of the game. Third baseman Christian Faust added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to complete the final score of 7-3.

“I saw a lot of fastballs today and I didn’t try to do too much with it,” Bonter said. “I just so happened to square one up and knock it out and that was just the result of me and the team preparing well beforehand.”

Game Three – 4/13: GVSU scored a single run in the first and second thanks to four Laker hits and a pair of Ranger errors. GVSU then opened the game up during the bottom of the third with three more runs on three hits.

Left fielder Connor Grice brought Laudont and Bonter on a two RBI single to cap the scoring in the third. Bonter again scored in the fifth when he walked to open the inning and later scored on a bases loaded walk to third baseman Christian Faust. To cap it all off, Bonter closed the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Michael Morelli picked up the win for GVSU. Morelli allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts in six innings on the mound. Bonter continued his hot streak of late with a 3-for-3 performance including a double, home run and two RBI contest. Grice was also 3-for-4 with two RBI for GVSU.

Game Four – 4/13: The Lakers poured in nine runs on 15 hits, which ended with a flair for the dramatic. GVSU scored a single run in the second when a Faust single scored Drake Ellens.

Trailing 6-3, right fielder Chase Carpenter brought a run home with a sacrifice fly to move the score to 6-4, while Ellens doubled to left to score second baseman Anthony Cocco to make the score 6-5.

A solo home run upped the lead to 7-5 for Wisconsin Parkside, but the Lakers answered with a run in the sixth, followed by another run in the seventh to tie the game at 7-7. Ellens reached base again with a bunt single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Ellens then scored on a single to center by catcher Ryan Lorber. GVSU took the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Laudont singled to open the inning, advanced to second on a bunt and then scored on a Cocco double to make it 8-7.

The Rangers tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the ninth to set up a dramatic finish. Lorber opened the bottom of the ninth with a single and Cam Brayman, who was pinch running, advanced to second on a sac bunt. Brayman then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly to center off the bat of pinch hitter Jonathon Catapano.

“The unity behind this team is starting to get there,” said pitcher Nick Shaw, who had eight strikeouts in four innings of work on Friday. “We’re starting to have a lot more fun in the dugout and build a better atmosphere, it’s exciting.”