By Kevin Lopez
The Grand Rapids Community College softball team took on Delta College in a make up game on Friday, April 7 at Belknap Park and came away with a split, winning the first game 4-2 and losing the second game 9-14.
In the first game, at the bottom of the first, the Raiders were able to score off of a hit to the left field by Brynn McArthur, a freshman middle infielder, that allowed freshman Izabella Regner and sophomore Jaye Guichelaar to make runs and score for a 2-0 start.
Moving into the bottom of the second, sophomore Alyssa Wierenga was able to single it up the middle, which set her up as she then ran to second thanks to a wild pitch and finally completed the run when Guichelaar also singled it up the middle that gave Wierenga the chance to score and extend the lead 3-0.
Both teams struggled to score in the next two innings, but at the top of the fifth, Delta College began mounting a comeback as they were able to get hits and make runs as they scored on two possessions that brought the score to 3-2.
The Raiders were able to respond with a run of their own as Guichelaar was able to get on a base, while Regner doubled to left center and was able to get on third and Guichelaar took advantage and made the run to build their lead 4-2.
Delta College wasn’t able to respond back as the Raiders stayed focused and kept their opponent from scoring and maintained their lead to win the game 4-2.
Izabella Rechner, who had nine strikeouts, felt their defense was the key.
“Our defense was very good in the first game,” Rechner said. “We had plans at the plate and found ways to get on base with key hits to score runs.”
Game two was a more of a high scoring affair, but it was a tale of two halves as the Raiders had a hot start and quickly took the lead as Delta made the first run, but GRCC, in the bottom of the first, were able to score on a hit by freshman Lauren James that gave Regner and Guichelaar the chance to score and take the lead 2-1.
Then in the bottom of the second, the Raiders exploded with several hits that landed players on base that put pressure on Delta that allowed them to score. Freshman Vanessa Hewitt was up first and singled up the middle, while sophomore Annika Roersma was hit by the pitch allowing her to walk to first and push Hewitt to second and Guichelaar bunted on the pitch that loaded up the bases.
It was all up to Wierenga as she came up to bat and finished the job as she doubled to left center and allowed the Raiders to score three runs and to take the lead 5-2.
The onslaught continued as Wierenga was able to score on her run after McArthur walked to first base and Samara Colehouse was hit by the pitch that pushed McArthur to second base and eventually she scored as well to take their lead to 7-1.
Unfortunately, Delta College was up to the challenge themselves as at the top of the third, they were able to match the Raiders and score on seven runs of their own to tie the game, 7-7.
Then onto the top of the fourth, Delta College continued to build on their momentum as they scored on three more runs, while also keeping the Raiders from scoring as they scored on another run in the fifth inning and seemingly began taking control of the game, 12-7.
In the top of the sixth, Delta once again scored two more runs that brought their lead up to 14-7. Delta College had full control of the game, despite GRCC scoringa run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh, it was not enough as Delta won the game, 14-9.
The Raiders now have a record of 12-10 and a conference record of 5-5.
The Raiders face Alma College in their next double header as they play on Tuesday, April 11 at 3 p.m and 5 p.m.
