WESTFIELD, Ind. -- Kyohei Makita and Troy Bittenbender each record two hits and Mario Samuel allowed only one earned run in 6.0 innings, but Grand Valley State used a four-run sixth inning to pull away from Wisconsin-Parkside and post a 5-1 win in the series opener between the two teams on Saturday at the Grand Park Complex.

Makita and Bittenbender each finished the game 2-for-4 to pace the Rangers offensive attack, while Kyle Schulz, Nick Janssen and Max Widmar also had base hits for Wisconsin-Parkside. Bryan Wade had the lone RBI on the game for the Rangers, while Bittenbender scored the only run.

Samuel, who dropped to 1-2 on the season, went 6.0 innings and allowed seven hits and one earned run and struck out six batters. Mason Martin pitched well in relief for the Rangers as he allowed only one hit in 2.0 innings and struck out three hitters.

Grand Valley State, which improved to 10-5 overall, had four hits and took advantage of two Wisconsin-Parkside errors in the sixth inning to score four times in breaking a 1-1 tie.

The Lakers scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead, but the Rangers responded with a run in the top of the third inning.

Bittenbender opened the third inning with an infield single and stole second base two batters later. He advanced to third base on a balk and then scored when Wade lofted a sacrifice fly to right to knot the score at 1-1.

Wisconsin-Parkside, which dropped to 5-6 on the season, had opportunities to put runs on the scoreboard. In the fourth inning the Rangers had a runner on third with two outs and had a runner on third with one out in the fifth inning, but failed to capitalize on either opportunity. In both the seventh and eighth innings, Wisconsin-Parkside had multiple runners in scoring position, but could not come up with a clutch hit.

The two teams will conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday (March 19) beginning at 12 p.m. at the Grand Park Complex.