Feb. 28, 2026, MARIANNA & WINTER HAVEN, FL. – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams experienced a full slate of action Saturday in Florida, as the Raiders opened their baseball season against the nation's top-ranked team while softball wrapped up Day 2 at The Spring Games.

Baseball Falls in Season-Opening Doubleheader at No. 1 Chipola College

The Raiders opened the 2026 season on the road against No. 1-ranked Chipola College, dropping both games of the doubleheader, 14-4 and 31-0.

Game 1 – Chipola 14, GRCC 4

GRCC jumped out to an early lead in the third inning thanks to a pair of home runs.

Freshman third baseman AJ Speigl blasted his first collegiate home run to cut the deficit to 2-1. Two batters later, sophomore Peter Heintz followed with a two-run shot to give the Raiders a 3-2 advantage.

Chipola responded in a big way, scoring four runs in the fourth inning, two in the fifth, and six more in the sixth to pull away.

The Raiders finished with eight hits while allowing 10. Speigl led GRCC with two hits, while sophomore Kyle O'Hearn took the loss on the mound.

Game 2 – Chipola 31, GRCC 0

The nightcap proved challenging as Chipola's offense stayed hot. GRCC was limited to two hits — one each from Gabe Stouffer and Andrew Conrad — while the hosts collected 19 hits. The Raiders also committed four errors in the contest.

Cam Schader, Landon Terry and Dax Rossin shared duties on the mound for GRCC.

The Raiders will look to bounce back Sunday when they face Chipola again in another doubleheader.

Softball Splits on Day 2 at The Spring Games

After opening the season Friday with dominant wins over Oakland Community College (11-0) and Millennia Atlantic University (12-1), the Raiders faced both teams again Saturday, earning a split.

Game 1 – Oakland CC 11, GRCC 7

Oakland did all of its damage in two innings, scoring six runs in the third and five in the sixth. GRCC had battled back to trim the deficit to 6-5 entering the bottom of the sixth before Oakland pulled away.

Both teams recorded 12 hits.

Freshman Tia Schone took the loss, allowing nine earned runs while striking out eight. Natalee Beck paced the Raiders offensively with three hits and two RBI. Caitlyn Horvath, Schone and Paige Arthur each added two hits in the effort.

Game 2 – GRCC 19, Millennia Atlantic 0 (5 innings)

The Raiders responded in dominant fashion in the nightcap, exploding for 20 runs in a five-inning run-rule victory over Millennia Atlantic University.

GRCC wasted no time, scoring two runs in the first inning before erupting for nine in the second. Highlighting the big inning was Ella Showers' first collegiate home run — a two-run shot to dead center.
The Raiders added five runs in the third and four more in the fourth to seal the victory.

Showers and Lauren Wiley each finished with three hits and three RBI to lead the offensive surge.

In the circle, sophomore Lilly Klop was dominant. She retired the first nine batters she faced and allowed just one baserunner — a double — while striking out seven in the shutout performance.

GRCC will conclude its weekend at The Spring Games on Sunday with games against Marian University at 2:30 p.m. and Alma College at 4:45 p.m.

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.