MAY 13, 2026, SUMMIT TWP, MI – The Grand Rapids Community College baseball team continued its postseason surge Wednesday afternoon, rallying late for a 7-5 victory over Henry Ford College in the NJCAA Region XII Final 5 at Jackson College.
With the win, the Raiders improved to 30-12 overall and extended their winning streak to 17 games. Henry Ford ended the day at 32-15.
GRCC advanced to the Final 5 after sweeping Mid Michigan College in its opening regional series two games to none.
The Hawks struck first in Wednesday's matchup, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly. Through four innings, Henry Ford's starting pitcher had kept the Raiders hitless.
GRCC finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Michael Hurlbutt led off with a single. Later in the inning, Owen Hendrix brought him home with an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game at 1-1.
Henry Ford answered immediately with two runs in the sixth to reclaim a 3-1 advantage, but the Raiders once again responded in the bottom half. Peter Heintz, one of the MCCAA's most dangerous hitters, launched his 12th home run of the season to cut the deficit to one. Hurlbutt followed with a double before Gabe Stouffer tied the contest at 3-3 with an RBI single.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the seventh as the Hawks plated two more runs to move back in front, 5-3.
But GRCC delivered its biggest inning of the afternoon in the bottom of the eighth.
The Raiders erupted for four runs on five hits, highlighted by Hendrix's go-ahead RBI single. Jack Lockwood later added an insurance RBI after ripping a double deep into right-center field, giving GRCC a 7-5 cushion entering the ninth.
Sam Vanneste shut the door for the Raiders, earning his second save of the season. The game ended on a double play started by Cannon Paul.
Sam Schumuker improved to 2-0 after earning the win in relief, while Kyle O'Hearn received a no-decision after throwing the first six innings for GRCC.
The Raiders finished with 11 hits offensively. Hurlbutt led the way with three hits, while Heintz and Stouffer each added two.
GRCC now advances to face Kellogg Community College on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Kellogg enters the matchup as the tournament's top seed and the No. 1-ranked team in the latest NJCAA Division II poll.
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