ROMEOVILLE, Ill. - Grand Valley State scored three runs in the final two innings to defeat the Lewis University baseball team 5-3 Saturday (March 17) at Brennan Field.

The loss drops the Flyers to 5-9 overall, while the Lakers move to 10-7.

Grand Valley opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first, thanks to an error, and added a second in the fourth in a home run by Ryan Blake-Jones to take a 2-0 lead.

After the Flyers left the bases loaded in the third inning, they went right back on the attack in the fourth. Austin Tittle (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) had a one out single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) followed that up with a RBI double to get the Flyers on the board. Jermaine Terry (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South) added a single and after a walk, the bases were loaded for the second straight inning with Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) batting.

Schefske was able to reach on a fielder's choice, which scored Cavalieri to tie the game. Connor Rutherfold then singled to right field, scoring Terry, but Schefske was tagged out between third and home to end the inning with a 3-2 lead for Lewis.

The score remained the same until the eighth inning when the Lakers got a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly to even the score.

Grand Valley led off the ninth with a single and after a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt, had runners on first and second with no outs. After a sac bunt, a groundout scored the go ahead run and a wild pitch added a fifth run for the guests.

The Flyers went three-up, three-down to end the game.

Josh D. Smith (1-1) went five innings in relief for the Lakers to pick up the win, not allowing a base runner, while striking out five. Brady Kostecki (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing one hit and two runs, none earned, in the ninth. Blake Marks (Gardner, Ill./Gardner-South Wilmington) started for Lewis and went seven innings, allowing six hits, two runs and one earned run, striking out five.

The two teams will complete the series Sunday (March 18) with a seven-inning double header, with the first game beginning at 12 p.m at Brennan Field.