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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The sun was finally back in Grand Rapids and after an eight day layoff, the Raiders were back in action. The Bruins, whom the Raiders beat both times at their place, lost in extra innings 4-3 in game one, but came back to finish the day with a split after shutting out the home team in game two, 6-0. 

Kellogg CC started the day off on the right foot scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.  After a bloop double by shortstop Minda Martinez, first baseman power hitter Paige Richmond (4-7, 3 RBI on the day) followed up with an RBI single up the middle. The Raiders Marlene Packer made a great play to get the next batter out in the 3-4 ground out, but the Bruins would score and make it a 2-0 ball game.

The Bruins pitcher, Mercedes Angus, had a no hitter going through the first three innings as her team clung on to a 2-0 lead going in to the bottom of the fourth. Jessica Kohloff led off with a walk (one of ten total freebies from the Bruins pitchers) to start the rally. Alison Iuelle then smacked the Raiders first hit of the game down the left field line moving Kohloff to second base. After a force out and a fly out, freshman Lindsey Schroedter loaded the bases after a seven pitch base on balls. Adrienne Palmer proceeded with the biggest hit of the day for her team as she ripped a line drive single to centerfield, scoring Iuelle and Kellen Dewey, making it a 2 to 2 ball game.

The Raiders had a few chances to put themselves ahead, but left four ladies in scoring position over the next few innings as the Bruins would force extra innings. A crucial call from the field umpire came in the bottom of the seventh when he called Allie Annese out for leaving second base early on the Kohloff fly out to left field. That call ended the threat and to the 8^th inning we went.

Martinez and Dani Gremel grounded and struck out to start the extra period, but Richmond’s line drive single to third started a Bruin rally. Before Richmond’s hit, Kohloff and her defense got 18 of the last 20 batters out. After a hit-by-pitch and single down the left field line, the Bruins regained the lead, 3-2. With runners on the corners, Packer snatched a line drive from pinch hitter Kelsey Vliek to end the first half of the inning.

Iuelle was patient at the plate to lead off the latter of the inning as she got ahead in the count three balls and no strikes. It was at that point when Bruin’s coach decided he had enough and brought in his third pitcher of the game, Kristin VanOosten. The next pitch was a ball and the tying run marched to first. Dewey was the next patient batter to reach base on another base on balls and the Raider nation continued to roar. 

Third baseman Karli Showers got the call for a sac bunt to move the runners and she got a little more than she bargained for. The Bruins tried to get aggressive and throw out Iuelle at third after the bunt, however a bad throw to the shortstop covering third allowed Iuelle to charge home and score the game tying run. Three batters later, freshman Casey Cherry stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and just one out. After two failed bunt attempts the right fielder hit a hard ground ball to third who would get the force out at home. After the out, the Bruins catcher thought she could double up Cherry at first, but instead threw the ball away and Showers would come around to score the game winning run.

Kohloff (three earned runs, nine K’s, and just two BB’s) picked up her third win of the season after the domination over the Bruins. Adrienne Palmer finished with two of four total Raider hits.   
In game two it was all Bruins. The Raider offense had plenty of chances to score but they couldn’t muster a run in the 6-0 loss. GRCC left 10 on base, including twice leaving the bases loaded. They walked eight more times, but could only manage two hits; a line drive single from Brenna Donahue and an infield single by Marlene Packer. 

The Bruins tallied 10 hits in the game; eight coming from the 1, 3, and 4 batters. They got a two run homer from Richmond in the top of the third, making it a 3-0 ball game, and then a two run blast from Gremel in the top of the 6^th. 

Ashley Raap (5-9) took the loss for the Raiders in game two, allowing three earned runs through six innings.