FORT MYERS, Fla. – Once again coming close in a pair of low-scoring games, the Lakeland College baseball team was again swept in a very competitive doubleheader Thursday morning at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

The Muskies were defeated by Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College by scores of 4-2 and 4-3. Lakeland dropped to 1-7 on the season and on its spring break trip.

The Muskies finished with four hits in each game but were opportunistic in their few chances. Lakeland also got solid pitching and fielding to stay close in both contests.

Brady Callahan (Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) delivered a two-run single in the top of the third to score Sterling Dixon (Jr.-Grayslake, Ill.) and Kyle Delahaut (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis.) and give the Muskies a 2-1 lead in the opener. The Lions came back with a run in the bottom of the inning, though, and went ahead for good when Jake Koch hit a two-run single down the left field line in the fifth.

Luke Bacci (Jr.-Grayslake, Ill.) had two hits for Lakeland, while Drew Richard (Fr.-Kieler, Wis.) took the loss on the mound. Richard pitched a complete game and allowed six hits and four runs while striking out two.

The Muskies took an early 1-0 lead in the second game when Bryce Skelton (Jr.-Delavan, Wis.) scored on a wild pitch. Eastern Nazarene followed with four runs in the third, but Lakeland added single runs in the fourth and sixth frames. Kenny Pekarek (So.-Sagola, Mich.) drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and Jared Rear (Jr.-Belleville, Wis.) scored on an error after a fly out by Ryan Boettcher (Sr.-Bonduel, Wis.).

Rear had two hits in the second game while Skelton and Dixon both added one hit each. Christopher Leopold (Fr.-Bolingbrook, Ill.) pitched for the Muskies and allowed eight hits and four runs while striking out one and walking five.

Lakeland returns to the field again tomorrow when it faces Salem State (Mass.) University for another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. Central time.