Grand Rapids, Mich. – GRCC’s Raiders pick up two more wins over Glen Oaks to make six straight as they head into a tough week of competition.  Now 15-7 in the MCCAA West and 24-13 overall, the Raiders are ranked third in the West.

This weekend the Raiders routed the struggling Vikings of Glen Oaks 20-0 and 10-3, but will face some major Western Conference Championship contenders in the coming week as they host nationally ranked Owens and Kalamazoo Valley Community Colleges and unranked Muskegon Community College.

Kalamazoo’s Cougars currently claim the top spot in the West with a 17-3 record in conference with two losses against second place Muskegon CC and one coming by way of Ancilla College.

Muskegon’s Jayhawks are now 22-4 in the West with two losses against KVCC and one loss from both Lake Michigan and Lansing CC.

Before having the opportunity to dethrone both of the MCCAA West's top two, the Raiders are aiming to topple one the NJCAA’s finest as they host the 8^th ranked Express of Owens CC on Tuesday April 24th.

Owens will travel to Grand Rapids with a 25-3 record with one of those losses coming by way of GRCC.   The two teams went toe to toe on 10^th of April and both walked away with 1-1.

Grand Rapids has now won six in a row while Owens is coming off their third loss of the season to Mercyhurst North East who edged them out 6-4 yesterday, following an 8-0 win for the Express in the first game of the double header.

GRCC faced Mercyhurst North East three times in their spring games and lost each contest.  While the loss will certainly have the Express on edge, the Raiders will not be taking Owens lightly.

The Raiders heavy hitters will play a big role in the outcome of this upcoming series.  Kelsey Caposey (.435), Kaitlyn Schneider (.425) and Chelsea Hutchison (.390) are leading GRCC’s squad in batting thus far in 2012.   They have combined for 143 hits, 115 runs and 75 RBI and will be expected to keep up those impressive figures—especially if they have to face Owen’s ace, Ashlyn Michalak.

The Express’ Michalak has a .937 ERA allowing 54 hits in 89.2 innings with 134 strikeouts.  She is 12-0 in 2012.
The Raiders certainly have what it takes to knock off the Express—they’ve done it once before only two weeks ago.  Regardless of the outcome of that series, the each team visiting Belknap Park this week will have their hands full as they aim for key wins against the toughest competition the MCCAA West offers.

GRCC hosts Owens CC Tuesday April 24^th at 3:30PM; KVCC Thursday April 26^th at 3:00PM and Muskegon CC Friday April 27^th at 3:00PM.  Each contest is a double header.