GAME 1: #19 Grand Valley State 6, Parkside 1
GAME 2: #19 Grand Valley State 8, Parkside 3
After last weekend's original GLIAC opener was canceled for Parkside softball, they hit the road for a series against No. 19 Grand Valley State on Thursday but were swept by the Lakers. Coming into this series, the Lakers hadn't given up more than two runs in a single game in all of their wins this season, speaking to the tough pitching staff.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
The Rangers got on the scoreboard first, thanks to a Jess Miklos RBI fielder's choice that plated Dani Evans. Unfortunately, that was all Parkside could do against the GVSU pitching staff. The Lakers went on to score two in the first inning, three in the third and the final run in the fifth.
 
Junior Kiley Akey finished 1-for-2 while Taylor Delgado went 1-for-3. Miklos had the Rangers' only RBI. Senior Cassidy Prucha suffered the loss, going 2.0 innings while Akey had a solid outing in relief, going 4.0 innings allowing one run on four hits.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
In game two, GVSU jumped out to a big lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning, including three on an RBI triple. With the Lakers leading 4-0, Parkside answered in the third with a pair of runs of their own. Sophomore Alex Wooten drew a bases loaded walk that scored senior Samantha Newtoff and Miklos hit an RBI fielder's choice to plate Evans, making it 4-2 GVSU.
After the Lakers scored one in the bottom of the third inning to make it 5-2, the Rangers used a sacrifice fly from sophomore Jadynn Powell to bring it to a 5-3 game. The Lakers tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull ahead 8-3
 
Parkside finished with five hits, as Delgado went a perfect 3-for-3, Aliverti went 1-for-3 with a double and Newtoff went 1-for-3 with a run. Evans drew two walks and scored a run out of the leadoff spot.
 
Senior Tijanne Ross pitched 5.2 inning allowing eight runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Senior Allison Hausl pitched the final out.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Parkside will stay on the road, battling Wayne State on Saturday and Saginaw Valley State on Sunday.