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AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Despite a 3-run home run by junior Brandon Collins (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln Way North) in the first inning, Lewis baseball fell 12-6 to No. 16 Grand Valley State on Friday (March 16) morning.

Collins' shot to left field scored freshman Neal Tyrell (Minooka, Ill./Minooka) and junior Austin Mastela (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport). A hit by pitch followed for the Flyers and Grand Valley starting pitcher Russell Griffin was chased after just one out.

Grand Valley responded with two runs in the bottom of the first off freshman starter Ryan Fox (Dayton, Ohio/Centerville). The Lakers took the lead thanks to a three-spot in the sixth. It was a 5-3 game in the top of the seventh when Lewis put runners on first and second with one out. However Grand Valley reliever Kevin Hallberg earned a double play ball off the bat of Mastela to get out of the jam.

The Lakers added five runs in the bottom of the seventh to open up the game and give Hallberg the win after 6.2 scoreless innings out of the pen. His record is now 1-0.

Fox took the loss for the Flyers, his record is now 1-1.

Collins and Tyrell both finished with two hits for the Flyers. Mastela and Collins scored twice in the game after Lewis put up three runs in the ninth. Collins' home run was the first of his career.

The Flyers fall to 3-4 while Grand Valley State improves to 4-2. The Flyers close their annual Spring Break trip on Saturday against Wayne State (Neb.) in get-away-day first pitch time of 9:05 a.m. ET.