April 7, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team built up a 10-run lead against Lake Michigan College, then almost watched it slip away. The team then walked off a win in the nightcap to sweep in a Thursday doubleheader.
GRCC jumped in front in the first inning of the first game, with Caleb Engelsman tripling on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run, and the team finishing with eight runs on the board. The team tacked on three more runs in the third inning.
GRCC tallied 12 hits, with Ryan Dykstra going three for three, and Andres Rivera-Calderon, Engelsman, and Jacob Gumieny all managed multiple hits.
Lake Michigan scored a run in the second and two in the fourth, then rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh, falling just shy.
In the second game, Andres Rivera-Calderon’s dramatic single on a 0-2 count drove home a winning run in the bottom of the seventh to give GRCC the 7-6 win.
Lake Michigan scored four runs in the first inning, but GRCC came back to add four runs in the fourth inning, with Engelsman, Rivera-Calderon, and Max Varon all driving in runs.
Traver earned the win, allowing two hits and one run over two-thirds of an inning, striking out one and walking none.
Brad Dunn started the game for GRCC, throwing six and a third innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking none.
Engelsman went 2-for-3 at the plate, including a fourth-inning home run to lead the GRCC offense.
The sweep brings the GRCC record to 10 wins and 14 losses. The team is back in action on Friday, with a doubleheader against Muskegon Community College.