Allendale, Mich. – Senior Kyleigh Payne (Bourbonnais, Ill./Kankakee CC/ Bishop McNamara), went 2-for-6 on the day with two RBI, but the Purdue University Northwest softball team lost both game of its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader with No. 10 ranked Grand Valley State University (Mich.) Saturday afternoon at the GVSU Softball Field in Allendale, Mich. The Pride managed just two hits in a 2-0 loss in game one and fell 9-4 in the late game.
The Lakers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead behind an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning of game one. GVSU capped the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the third. Junior Mia Stevens (Rensselaer, Ind./South Suburban CC/Kankakee Valley) pitched well for the Pride in the defeat (7-6) tossing 6.0 innings, scattering eight hits, with two runs (both earned) and one strikeout. Senior Samme Miller (North Salem, Ind./St. Joseph's College/Tri-West) went 1-for-2 with a single and junior Tessa Steffens (Litchfield, Ill./Litchfield) was also 1-for-2 with her fifth double of the season.
Grand Valley State would get on the board in the bottom of the first in game two with an RBI single and would extend their lead with three more runs in the bottom of the second. Payne would drive in PNW's first run on a base hit up the middle in the top of the third. Sophomore Taylor Mendenhall (Brownsburg, Ind./St. Joseph's College/Brownsburg) came around to score on an error to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Lakers would add a run in the third and three more in the bottom of the fourth.
Payne would pick up her second RBI of the game with a single to right and junior Taylor Kotzo (Munster, Ind./Munster) would slug her 17th double to left to score Mendenhall. Senior Holly Pagan (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) suffered the loss (3-3) lasting 3.1 innings surrendering nine hits, nine runs (eight earned) and issuing three walks. Stevens would log 2.2 innings of relief allowing just two hits.
Purdue Northwest (24-23 overall/14-16 GLIAC) wraps up regular season play on Sunday, April 29, with a road doubleheader at Ferris State University (Mich.). The first game of the pair is scheduled for a noon CT start at the FSU Softball Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
