Grand Valley State Claims Midwest Regional Softball Championship with 13-1 Win Over Lewis
GVSU advances to NCAA Super Regional; Flyers' season comes to an end.
Matt Brendich, Lewis Sports Information
Box Score / Box Score (PDF)
Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State, led by a 230-foot grand slam by left fielder Brittany Taylor, scored nine runs in the first inning on their way to the 13-1 (5 inn.) win over No. 22 Lewis University in the NCAA Midwest Regional Softball Championship game at the GVSU Softball Field on Monday (May 16) afternoon.
Taylor went 2-2 with four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Lakers.
"Congrats to Grand Valley State," Lewis head softball coach George DiMatteo said. "They proved why they're the best hitting team in the nation, because their bats came out blazing today."
With the win, Grand Valley State improves to 41-14 and advances to the NCAA Super Regional against Saginaw Valley State next weekend. Lewis ends the season with a record of 36-14.
Lewis senior pitcher Diana Pickrum (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) took the loss for the Flyers, as she allowed 13 runs, 12 earned, and nine hits in 2.2 innings of work for the Flyers. Pickrum ends the season with a record of 18-6.
GVSU starting pitcher Andrea Nicholson (20-6) earned the victory for the Lakers, allowing one run and four hits, while striking out three batters.
Lewis senior second baseman Kayla Smith (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard North) drove in the Flyers' only run with a RBI single.
Despite the loss, DiMatteo was proud of the season that his squad had.
"This was a fine ball club," DiMatteo said. "We repeated as conference champs and made it back to the regional championship.
"We're going to miss the seniors, but we have a lot to look forward to," DiMatteo continued. "What a great season!"