Apr. 6, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams wrapped up their conference series finales against Alpena Community College on Sunday, with both squads maintaining their hold on first place in the MCCAA Northern Conference standings.

Baseball: Raiders Split, Win Series 4-1

The GRCC baseball team saw its seven-game win streak snapped in Game 1, falling 9-3 to Alpena, but bounced back in dominant fashion in the nightcap with a 10-0, six-inning shutout to take the five-game series 4-1.

Game 1 Recap: Alpena came out swinging, plating two runs in the opening frame, and capitalized on GRCC miscues with three unearned runs to take a 5-1 lead. JT Ten Eyck drove in Cannon Paul with an RBI double in the second, and Ty Sandwick brought the Raiders back within two in the fifth with a two-run single. However, Alpena's pitching locked in, retiring the final seven Raiders while adding four more runs in the seventh for the 9-3 final. Sandwick had two of GRCC's seven hits.

Game 2 Recap: In Game 2, sophomore Kyle O'Hearn (2-2) was masterful, tossing a complete-game three-hit shutout in the 10-0 run-rule win. The Raiders' offense scattered 10 hits and steadily built their lead, scoring in every inning from the second onward. Ten Eyck sparked the scoring with an RBI triple, and the Raiders sealed the mercy-rule win in the sixth when Gavin Mazarka scored on a passed ball. Ten Eyck, Joey Hysell, and Xavier Allen each tallied two hits in the win.

GRCC improves to 15-14 overall and remains atop the conference standings with a 9-2 record.

Softball: Raiders Sweep Alpena, Move to 24-3

The GRCC softball team rolled to a doubleheader sweep over Alpena, winning 9-4 and 8-6 to improve to 24-3 overall and 10-1 in MCCAA Northern Conference play.

Game 1 Recap: After falling behind 2-0, the Raiders erupted for five runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Grace Chisek and RBI hits from Violet McWhinnie and Libby VanFleet. Jos VanderHart added a two-run single as part of a four-run burst over the next two innings. Kalani Stowe (10-0) stayed perfect on the season, fanning 10 for her seventh double-digit strikeout game. She also added three hits at the plate, joining McWhinnie and Natalee Beck, who also had three hits apiece among the team's 16 total knocks.

Game 2 Recap: The Raiders had to come from behind in the nightcap after Alpena put up five runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead. GRCC chipped away with runs in the third and fourth before a chaotic fifth inning turned the game. Trailing 6-4 with two outs, freshman Lauren Wiley delivered a clutch single to right that scored a run, and a throwing error brought in another. An interference call allowed Wiley to stay at third, and two batters later, Stowe brought her home to give GRCC a 7-6 lead. Wiley added an insurance RBI in the sixth. Beck came in to pitch the final two innings, retiring the final six batters for her first save. VanFleet (7-0) got the win with 5 solid innings and 7 strikeouts. Grace Salley led the offense with three of the team's 11 hits.

Up Next

Both GRCC teams return to action on Tuesday in another key conference matchup, hosting Mid Michigan College in doubleheaders starting at 3 p.m.

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