Baseball Goes 1-1 Versus Grand Valley State In Midweek Doubleheader

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University baseball team split a doubleheader against Grand Valley State Wednesday afternoon (April 20). Northwood took game one by the score of 9-6 before GVSU took game two 5-1.

Northwood is now 17-17 overall, 7-9 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Grand Valley State stands at 20-11-1 overall, 11-5 in the GLIAC.

Both offenses came out fast in game one, as the Lakers put two on the board while Northwood plated one to make the score 2-1 after one inning.  NU then added single runs in the second and the third inning while GVSU had a run in the third to send the game to the fourth tied 3-3. That proved to be the key inning of the contest, as NU put together six runs on five hits to put the Timberwolves up for good at 9-3. The Lakers scored three in fifth but that proved to be the final runs in the seven-inning contest.

GVSU out-hit Northwood 12-9 in the game. But the Lakers committed three errors, which led to four unearned runs for NU. The Lakers also left 11 runners on base compared to Northwood at four.

Cody Kuzniczci (Madeira, Ohio/Northern Kentucky) led the way for Northwood at the plate, going 2-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Nick Barrientos (Zionsville, Ind./Danville Area CC) had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Larry Wood (Essexville, Mich./Garber) overcame a slow start to pick up his second win of the season. He allowed two earned runs in four innings of work. Matt Stojkov (Northville, Mich./Saginaw Valley State) got the final three outs of the game to earn his first save at Northwood.

Game two was a low-scoring affair until a late rally by the Lakers. GVSU got on the board in the first inning to take the early lead. The score remained that way until the sixth inning when Northwood tied the game.  In the eighth inning, the Lakers scored four runs, all of which were plated with two outs.  NU was able to get just one runner on in the final two innings to give Grand Valley State the win.

Northwood ended up with just two hits in game two while GVSU ended up with 10 hits. Both teams had two errors and seven runners left on base.

Logan Meadors (Oxnard, Calif./Midland Univ.) pitched well for Northwood in the loss in a no-decision. He allowed one unearned run in 6 1/3 innings of work, allowing six hits and two walks.

Northwood will continue its 10-game home stand with a four-game series against Wayne State this Saturday and Sunday (April 23-24). Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.