Kenny Wilson

ALLENDALE, Mich. - Grand Valley State used solid pitching and timely hitting to sweep a doubleheader from Northern Kentucky University on Saturday in a key regional baseball showdown.

Grand Valley State, the three-time defending North Central Region champion, won the opener by a 7-4 score. The Lakers, ranked No. 15 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, completed the sweep with a 9-0 victory in the nightcap against No. 25 NKU.

In the opener, Grand Valley State built a 6-1 lead and held off a late Norse rally to get the win. Jim Volpe led the NKU attack with three runs batted in.

The Lakers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning of the second game and later sealed the win with a six-run outburst in the fifth. Casey Robrahn went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead Grand Valley State, which improved to 28-8.

Kenny Wilson was 3-for-3 to pace NKU, which dropped to 27-14-1. Conor McGeehan added a pair of hits for the Norse, who committed four errors that led to six unearned runs in the nightcap.

Earlier this season, NKU and Grand Valley State split a doubleheader at Highland Heights, Ky.

NKU resumes Great Lakes Valley Conference play on Wednesday with a road doubleheader at Kentucky Wesleyan. The Norse will wrap up their home season next Saturday and Sunday with noon doubleheaders against Indianapolis at Florence, Ky.

NKU leads the GLVC with a 25-8-1 record.

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE