Rosa Gonzalez (Fr.-Elwood, Ill.) and Angela Tribuzio (Fr.-Huntley, Ill.) hit back-to-back home runs as part of a seven-run second inning and the Lakeland College softball team defeated Concordia University Chicago 10-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars rallied for an 11-6 win in the second game to gain a split of the Northern Athletics Conference twinbill. The games were the first in conference this season for both teams and also marked the home opener for the Muskies.

Lakeland (6-10 overall) blew the first game open with a big second inning on its way to winning in five innings on account of the eight-run rule. Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and Tribuzio followed with a solo home run, and fellow freshman Hailey Jester (Salem, Wis.) also drove in a run during the outburst.

The Muskies added three more runs in the fourth inning, as Mikayla Hilton (So.-Port Washington, Wis.) walked with the bases loaded to score a run and Savannah Stenlund (Fr.-Rapid River, Mich.) hit a two-run double. Stenlund also got the win in the game, pitching all five innings and allowing four hits and two runs with two strikeouts.

Lakeland looked to be on its way to a sweep when it took a 6-3 lead after five innings in the second game. Calie Delisi (Fr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) tripled to drive in two runs in the fourth and the Muskies added four more runs in the fifth in wiping away a 3-0 deficit.

The Cougars (1-10 overall) would rally in the late innings, though, including six runs in the top of the seventh. Concordia strung together seven hits and also took advantage of three Muskie errors in making a late charge.

Gonzalez and Tribuzio both finished with three hits and four runs scored on the day. Delisi also added two hits.

The Muskies are in action at home again tomorrow when they host Dominican University at noon.