FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Lakeland College baseball team mustered a total of nine hits in two games in losing both ends of a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota-Morris on Monday as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
The Cougars won the first game 7-3 and took the second by a score of 4-1. The Muskies were competitive in both games but dropped to 1-5 on their spring break trip.
Minnesota-Morris (2-0 overall) got off to a good start in its season opener, scoring twice in the top of the first inning and four more times in the second to take an early 6-0 lead in Game 1. Lakeland played from behind all the way in both games, as the Cougars also scored twice in the bottom of the first in the second game.
Jared Rear (
Jr.-Belleville, Wis.) had two hits and a run scored in the first game, while
Brady Callahan (
Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.),
A.J. Dollinger (
Sr.-Ashwaubenon, Wis.) and
Bryce Skelton (
Jr.-Delavan, Wis.) all drove in runs.
Travis Stever (
So.-Brillion, Wis.) took the loss on the mound, throwing six innings and allowing eight hits and seven runs while striking out five and walking three.
The Muskies got down early in the second game but stayed close behind a good pitching effort by
Ryan Boettcher (
Sr.-Bonduel, Wis.). Normally the team's shortstop, Boettcher pitched a complete game and allowed seven hits and just two earned runs over six innings while striking out eight and walking none.
Lakeland closed within 2-1 in the third inning when
Brandon Glaeser (
Jr.-Newton, Wis.) reached on a walk and later came around to score after advancing to third on a wild pitch and coming home when the catcher's throw to third was wild. Minnesota-Morris added two unearned runs in the fifth, though, with a run coming in directly off of an error and the game's final run coming off an RBI double by Donnie Mavencamp.
Boettcher, Callahan and
Kyle Delahaut (
Jr.-Green Bay, Wis.) had the lone three hits in the second game for the Muskies.
Lakeland is back in action on Thursday when it faces Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College for a doubleheader beginning at 8 a.m. Central time.