Purdue Northwest couldn't keep pace with Grand Valley State on Saturday, falling in both games of a GLIAC doubleheader at Labors' Local 41 Field. Despite strong individual performances, the Pride came up short in an 5-4 loss in the opener and an 8-2 defeat in the nightcap. Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) and AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) led the PNW offense across both games, while the Lakers used big innings and timely hitting to take control early in each contest.

The Basics

• Records: Grand Valley State (33-10), Purdue Northwest (15-22)
• Location: Hammond, Indiana
• GLIAC Conference Game

The Breakdown
Game: L (5-4) – 7 Innings

• Several players stepped up for the Pride. Drake Ballard (Louisville, Ky./Martha Laynes Collins) recorded an RBI bunt single, while Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel) added an RBI groundout. Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) sparked the offense with an RBI double and later scored on a passed ball. AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) contributed a double, and Joey Guiliano (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) and Jax Kalemba (Chicago, Ill./Andrean) each tallied a hit, and a run scored.
• Conor Pangburn (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) delivered a complete game on the mound, allowing five earned runs over seven innings while striking out one.
• For Grand Valley State, C. Estrada led the way offensively with a double and a solo home run. E. Morrison drove in two runs, while R. Stimac contributed an RBI and scored twice. J. Dentler earned the win on the mound (9-0), and C. Phipps closed out the game for his fifth save of the season.
• Purdue Northwest struck first in the third inning when Ballard's bunt single scored Joey Guiliano (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North), and Imlach's groundout brought home Jax Kalemba (Chicago, Ill./Andrean) to give the Pride a 2-1 lead.
• Grand Valley answered with a three-run fifth inning, taking advantage of a fielder's choice RBI from Stimac, an RBI double by Estrada, and a run-scoring double from Morrison to jump ahead 4-2.
• The Pride responded quickly in the bottom half. Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel) led off with a single and came around to score on Earley's double down the right field line. Moments later, Earley scored on a passed ball to even the game at 4-4.
• Estrada delivered the decisive blow for Grand Valley in the seventh inning, launching a solo homer to left field that put the Lakers ahead 5-4.
• Despite putting the ball in play over the final innings, the Pride couldn't manufacture the tying run as Grand Valley's bullpen held firm.

 
The Breakdown
Game: W (8-2) – 9 Innings

• Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) continued his hot day at the plate, leading the Pride with four hits, including a double. AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) chipped in with two hits and scored a run, while Dan Puplava (Portage, Ind./Portage) recorded an RBI double. Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel) added an RBI groundout, and Brayden Barrett (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) had a pair of singles.

• On the mound, Jake Nightingale (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) started and pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. Jorge Zavala (Chicago, Ill./Holy Trinity) and Josh Damian (Blue Island, Ill./Eisenhower) combined for the final three innings, allowing just one hit.
• For Grand Valley State, E. Morrison had a big game with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. C. Thelen tripled and drove in a run, while A. VanEnkevo collected two hits and an RBI. Starter O. Avery earned the win (5-3), striking out seven over five strong innings.
• Grand Valley State struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by J. Gulbrands. The Pride immediately answered in the bottom half, as Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) singled and later scored on Puplava's double to right, tying the game 1-1.
• The Lakers broke things open with a four-run second inning, helped by a two-run double from Morrison and an RBI single from J. Gill. Grand Valley added another run in the third on a triple by C. Thelen and a groundout RBI in the fourth to extend their lead to 6-1.
• Purdue Northwest scratched across a second run in the sixth inning when AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) doubled and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel), but the Pride couldn't muster a sustained rally.
• Grand Valley padded their lead with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to make it 8-2, and strong bullpen work from S. Talaga and Z. Warren secured the win for the Lakers.

Up Next:
The Pride return to action Sunday, April 29, as they continue their four game series against Grand Valley State.