March 23, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The GRCC baseball team swept a doubleheader against Aquinas College, continuing a string of dominating performances.
The softball team showed some power of its own, snapping a four-game losing streak with a win in the first game of its twin bill against Glen Oaks Community College at Belknap Park.
The baseball team was shutout in its first game of the season, and has since scored 52 runs while giving up just seven, improving the season record to 4-1.
GRCC scored six runs in the third inning on its way to a 9-2 victory over the Aquinas junior varsity squad in the first game.
The rally was led by a triple by Caleb Englesman, a single by Matt Williams, a sacrifice fly by Max Varon, and a double by Fernando Calderon.
Keegan Spomer earned the win, going two innings and allowing no runs on one hit, striking out three and walking none. Bradley Dunn, Dalton Vander Ark, and Sam Schmitt all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory.
Drew Murphy started the game and pitched two innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out three and walking none.
GRCC totaled eight hits. Ryan Dykstra and Englesman each had multiple hits. The Raiders tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases.
In the second game, GRCC scored nine runs in the fifth inning on its way to a 15-2 victory.
The Raiders’ big inning was driven by singles by Jake Ryan, Ryan Dykstra, and Payton Young, walks by Camden Keatley and Fernando Calderon, a triple by Jake Paganelli, and a groundout by Sam Schmitt.
Caden Van De Burg was credited with the victory. The righty went two innings, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out two and walking zero. Jerad Berkenpas and Blake Waibel entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
Englesman started the game for the Raiders, pitching two innings, allowing one hit and no runs while walking none.
GRCC racked up 12 hits in the game. Ryan, Aaron West, and Young all managed multiple hits for Grand Rapids Community College. West and Ryan all had three hits each.
On the nearby softball diamond, the Raiders shutout Glen Oaks 4-0 to notch the first win of the season.
Mariah Redding had a big day, hitting her second home run of the young season, with pitcher Alexa Abrahamson scattering eight hits and striking out three without surrendering a walk to earn the win.
Alexis Nguyen had two hits in two at-bats, with two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Brooklynne Siewertsen had a run batted in and made a great catch in the top of the seventh inning.
The Raiders settled for a split, dropping the nightcap to the Vikings, 6-4.
GRCC was up 4-2 heading into the sixth inning, but Glen Oaks connected to score four runs to climb ahead.
Krin Beach had two hits in three at-bats.
The team is next in action on Friday, with a doubleheader against Mid Michigan.