The Ashland University baseball team had its five-game winning streak snapped on Friday (May 7) at Grand Valley State, 3-2, in Allendale, Mich.
The Eagles (19-13, 14-7 GLIAC) got a quality outing from freshman starter
Justin Dyksma, who tossed a complete game, but suffered the tough luck defeat.
Dyksma (1-3) allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in eight innings. He needed just 101 pitches to complete his start.
The Lakers (14-13, 10-7 GLIAC) spotted their starter, Nick Rutkowski, two runs in the first inning on a two-run double by Ryan Blake-Jones.
Dyksma kept the Lakers at bay for the next four innings and the Eagles cut their deficit in half in the sixth when junior
Alex Whipple ripped a leadoff triple and scored on a groundout by senior
Garett Robberts.
GVSU got that run back in the bottom half with Christian Faust scoring on a wild pitch.
Senior
Michael Rogers led off the seventh with a double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly by junior
Austin Eifrid.
Dyksma retired the last six hitters he faced, but the Eagles were not able to tie the game. Robberts led off the eighth with a single, but was eliminated on a double play and the Eagles did not get another baserunner.
Rutkowski (3-3) earned the win by going eight innings and allowing two runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Jared Skubic worked a perfect ninth for his third save.
Whipple led the Eagles offensively, going 2-for-4 with a triple.
The Eagles and Lakers are set to square off in a doubleheader on Saturday (May 8) as they continue their four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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