March 30, 2023, SHEPHERD, Mich. -- The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams bounced back from game one losses to Mid Michigan College by combining to score 33 runs in victories of second games of doubleheaders on Thursday.
The softball team’s opener was a pitcher's duel, with both aces combining for 24 strikeouts. GRCC lost 5-1, with just one of those runs being earned. Pitcher Izzy Regner took the tough loss.
Mid Michigan built a 9-3 lead after three innings in the nightcap, but GRCC exploded for nine runs on 11 hits in the top of the fourth inning. That inning included a three-run blast by Lauren James, her second home run of the season.
GRCC tacked on eight more runs in the sixth inning enroute to a 20-10 victory.
All nine GRCC players had at least one hit, with Jaye Guichelaar, James, Brittany Cisler, and Maci Huver all with three hits. Huver and James each had four runs batted in. Vanessa Hewitt hit her first collegiate homer and drove in three runs.
The baseball team mustered just three hits and dropped a 3-2 decision in the first game, with Jared Berkenpas getting the loss. But the team bounced back to win the nightcap 13-7.
GRCC totaled 14 hits from eight players. Luke Huerta and Trevin Laming each had three hits and Aaron Bess led the team with four RBI.
Connor Foley picked up the victory, his third win of the season, pitching five innings and striking out eight batters.
Both teams are scheduled to resume play Friday at 1 p.m. and finish the series out on Sunday.
This story was reported by Ben Brown.