ROSEMONT, Ill. - Emily Wood laced a line drive over an outstretched third baseman and Cassie Smith motored home to give the Truman State Softball team a signature win against a Division II heavyweight to close out a 2-0 first day at the Rosemont Dome Invitational near Chicago.

After picking up a 5-0 shutout win in the opener against Purdue Northwest, the Bulldogs sent all nine hitters to the plate in a six-run first inning against Grand Valley State in game two.

The Lakers scored two runs in the top of the game to go in front. Smith, who went 4-for-7 on the day, got things started with a bunt single, Wood would later single her home to cut the lead to 2-1. 

Avaree Taylor belted a two-run homer to give the Bulldogs the lead. The line continued with singles by Lydia Feiste, Kyleia Salyars and a run-scoring double by Brooke Nutter. Ryleigh Jones made it 6-2 with a two-run single.

From there, the Bulldogs had to hold on. The Lakers got one back in the second, and tied the game at six with three in the third. 

In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, Grand Valley had runners all over the place but could not score. Charlotte Chelich fanned the final two batters with second and third in the fourth, Jones threw out a runner at the plate in the fifth and in the sixth, the Lakers stranded a runner on third with one out.

Smith led off the bottom of the seventh just like she started the game, a bunt single and moved up on the sac bunt from Michaela Goad. After Wood fouled off the first pitch, she connected on the next sending the ball into left field allowing Smith to score for the winner.

Chelich got the win in relief after pitching the final four innings with four strikeouts and had eight in the two games pitched on Friday.

The Lakers have won 128 games the last three seasons and were the Division II runners-up in 2023.