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Apr. 10, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, MI – It was a day of tight finishes and clutch performances at Belknap Park on Friday, as the Grand Rapids Community College baseball and softball teams each swept doubleheaders against Muskegon Community College, with all four games decided by a single run.

The Raider softball team earned a pair of dramatic 3-2 victories, while the baseball squad matched the feat with two 4-3 wins. Both teams will travel to Muskegon on Saturday to conclude their five-game season series with the Jayhawks. Baseball leads its series 3-0, while softball holds a 2-1 edge.

Softball: Raiders Rally Twice to Take Over First Place

GRCC (22-7, 9-2 MCCAA) moved into first place in the conference standings following Friday's sweep, overtaking Muskegon CC (16-7, 10-3).

Game one mirrored an earlier heartbreaking loss on March 20 — but this time, the Raiders flipped the script.

After Muskegon took a 2-0 lead with back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning, GRCC responded in the bottom half when reigning conference Player of the Week Kenady O'Leary delivered an RBI double to score Libby VanFleet.

Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, freshman Tia Schone ignited the rally with a leadoff single down the right field line. VanFleet followed with a clutch RBI double to tie the game, and after Megan Lillie laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the go-ahead run to third, O'Leary delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly to seal the 3-2 victory.

GRCC edged Muskegon 5-4 in hits. Starter Kalani Stowe struck out nine over six strong innings, allowing just one walk, while Lillie (9-0) earned the win in relief by retiring all three batters she faced.

In game two, sophomore Lilly Klop — the reigning conference Pitcher of the Week — was dominant early, retiring the first 12 batters she faced. Muskegon broke through with a run in the fifth, but the Raiders answered immediately.

GRCC scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles from Ella Showers, O'Leary, and Lauren Wiley. Muskegon added a run in the sixth and threatened in the seventh, but Lillie shut the door, striking out the final batter with the tying run on third.

Klop earned the win (5-1), going 5.2 innings, while Lillie picked up her first collegiate save with 1.1 hitless innings. Muskegon narrowly outhit GRCC 5-4.

Baseball: Raiders Extend Win Streak to 10

The Raider baseball team (13-10, 8-1 MCCAA) continued its torrid stretch, extending its winning streak to 10 games while maintaining first place in the MCCAA North.

In game one, Muskegon struck first with three runs in the second inning, but GRCC responded in the fourth with RBI hits from Jack Lockwood, Carter Gulick (triple), and AJ Speigl (double) to even the score.

The Raiders pushed across the decisive run in the sixth when Owen Hendrix came around to score on an RBI single, with Cannon Paul crossing the plate for the game-winner in the 4-3 victory.

Kyle O'Hearn (3-1) earned the win, allowing just four hits over six innings while striking out four. Sam Schmuker closed the door in the seventh for his third save.

Game two saw GRCC again deliver in a key moment, scoring all four runs in the third inning with two outs. The biggest blow came from Peter Heintz, who lined a two-run single to score Paul and Speigl.

Muskegon chipped away with runs in the fifth and sixth, but the Raider bullpen held firm. Starter Kyler Larsen (2-1) went 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run, while Sam Vanneste secured his first save by retiring the side in order.

Both Raider squads will look to complete the series sweep on Saturday as they travel to Muskegon for the final games against the Jayhawks.

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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.