The Grand Rapids Community College softball team faced off against conference opponent Mid Michigan College in a four-game series spanning from Thursday, April 25, until Wednesday, May 1, where the Raiders struggled at the plate resulting in a 1-3 record. The Raiders then faced Lansing Community College on Monday, May 6, in their last doubleheader of the season and were defeated in both games 16-6 and 9-6.
Game One
Freshman pitcher Macy Springer allowed the Raiders to have a phenomenal start to Game One as she struck out all three batters in the first inning. However, a theme for this game was the need for scoring from each team. Springer continued to lead the Raiders as she stuck out all three batters in the top of the second inning to keep the score at 0-0.
Although the Lakers made multiple errors, the Raiders were unable to take advantage which meant the game remained scoreless through two innings. This continued through the fifth inning as both teams combined for seven hits.
In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore outfielder Vanessa Hewitt got a hit past the second baseman which allowed sophomore catcher Samara Kolehouse to score the first run of the game. However, with freshman shortstop Madison Miller on third base and Hewitt on second, GRCC was unable to score more than one run.
The Lakers took advantage of the Raiders’ only run as they scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning. A double down left-center field allowed two Lakers to score giving them a 2-1 lead.
Multiple Raiders were able to get on base in the bottom of the seventh inning but it did not matter as the Lakers finished off the Raiders in game one 2-1.
Springer pitched an impressive game despite the loss, pitching seven innings, giving up five hits and two runs, with nine strikeouts.
Game Two
The second game was one to forget for the Raiders. Not only did they allow nine runs in a five-inning game, but they did not record a hit throughout the game.
Sophomore pitcher Macy Huver started and finished the game, as she pitched five innings, giving up 13 hits, nine runs, six runs earned and two strikeouts.
Although the Lakers ran away with the game, the first three innings saw each team play impressive defense. With only two hits prior to the third inning, the Lakers turned it up in the top of the third inning as a few runs batted in (RBI’s) and an error allowed Mid Michigan to score three runs. After three-straight strikeouts by GRCC batters, the Lakers scored four more runs as a triple and a double catapulted Mid Michigan to a 7-0 lead.
GRCC once again went hitless for the final two innings, which meant the Lakers ended the game-winning 9-0. A huge reason why the Lakers had so much success was due to sophomore pitcher Heidi Nagel, pitching five innings, giving up zero hits, zero runs and striking out 11 batters.
Game Three
GRCC’s best all-around game of the series occurred in the third matchup between the Raiders and the Lakers, with the Raiders outlasting the Lakers 7-6.
Similar to the second game of the series, each team took a few innings to get comfortable at the plate. In the top of the third inning, sophomore first baseman Britney Cisler changed the momentum of the game by hitting a home run. GRCC continued the streak as sophomore third baseman Brynn McArthur hit a grand slam which increased the lead to 4-0.
Huver’s impressive pitching resulted in all three batters getting out in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore second baseman Alyssa Wierenga set up freshman outfielder Emily Obenauf as Wierenga hit a bunt which resulted in another run scored for the Raiders.
The Lakers responded in the bottom of the fourth inning as a homerun and a double allowed Mid Michigan to score two runs and cut the deficit to 5-2. Each team struggled in the fifth inning as neither team was able to score a run.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Mid Michigan rallied behind a few hits, one steal, and a few errors which put the score at 5-5.
Kolehouse entered the seventh inning with a huge opportunity, as freshman outfielder Chloe Meyers was in scoring position. Leaving no doubt, Kolehouse nailed a homerun to center field which scored two runs and put the Raiders back on top 7-5.
The Lakers looked to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, as they hit a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one run, but the Raiders were able to end the game by catching a pop fly.
Huver pitched seven innings, giving up eight hits, six runs, two earned runs and two strikeouts.
Game Four
The fourth and final game of the series was not welcoming for the Raiders, as they were defeated 19-0 in five innings.
Mid Michigan’s Nagel pitched once again and had another shutout. She pitched five innings, giving up four hits, zero runs and striking out 12 batters.
The Lakers started the game by scoring three runs in the first inning, five runs in the second inning, and 11 runs in the third inning. The Raiders remained down 19-0 and ended up losing by that same score.
Wierenga pitched her first start of the year, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up four hits, five runs and five earned runs.
Heading into the Lansing Community College series, GRCC held a 17-18-2 record along with a 11-9 conference record. With the conference schedule done and a Regional appearance secured, the final doubleheader of the season against Lansing Community College was an opportunity for the Raiders to improve on their play before Regionals.
LCC Doubleheader
Each team came out of the gate ready to go as the Raiders scored three runs along with the Stars scoring three runs. A Wierenga single scored the Raiders first run while freshman outfielder Joslyn VanderHart hit a single to right field to score two more runs, 3-0 Raiders.
The Stars scored three runs in the first inning while also tagging four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. VanderHart hit a groundout to second base in the top of the third inning which allowed Wierenga to score, cutting the Raiders deficit to three runs.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Stars caught ablaze as they scored nine runs mainly because of their hitting ability, but the Raiders made a few errors as well. Down 16-4, the Raiders were able to score a few runs but it was not enough as the Stars defeated the Raiders 16-6 in the first game.
The second game of the doubleheader was unlike the first, as the Raider hit three home runs but it was not enough, as LCC defeated GRCC 9-6. In the top of the first inning, Kolehouse hit a homerun down the left-field line which resulted in three runs for the Raiders.
However, the Stars responded throughout multiple innings as they took the lead by the bottom of the fourth inning, going up 4-3. McArthur tied the game in the top of the fifth inning with a home run down left-center field. LCC immediately responded with three runs thanks to three doubles.
In the top of the sixth inning, Obenauf hit a home run down the right-field line which allowed two Raiders to score. The Raiders’ deficit was cut to one as they trailed 7-6. Multiple ground balls hit by the Stars resulted in two runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Raiders trailing by three runs. GRCC was unable to create a comeback in the seventh inning which resulted in a 9-6 loss.
Now that the regular season is over, the Raiders finished with a 17-20-2 record and an 11-9 conference record. GRCC qualified for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XII (12) Great Lakes B Tournament and will face No. 2 seed Cuyahoga Community College on Thursday, May 9 at 2 p.m. in Marysville Park.
