FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Drew Richard (
Fr.-Kieler, Wis.) pitched a complete game four-hitter and the Lakeland College baseball team opened up a close game in the middle innings to defeat Rivier University (N.H.) 10-2 in the second game of a doubleheader at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
The Muskies earned their first win of the season in four tries, salvaging a split against the Raiders on the second day of their spring break trip. Rivier won the opening game 10-2, and the split of the day left Lakeland at 1-3 on the season.
Richard allowed four hits and two runs while striking out three and walking three over seven innings. He received plenty of run support, though he had to wait until the fourth and fifth innings for the Muskies to provide him significant backup.
Lakeland led 1-0 entering the fourth inning but scored a pair of unearned runs with the help of a pair of Rivier errors.
Kyle Delahaut (
Jr.-Green Bay, Wis.) reached on an error and both
Bryce Skelton (
Jr.-Delavan, Wis.) and
A.J. Dollinger (
Sr.-Ashwaubenon, Wis.) both scored.
The Muskies blew the game open with six runs in the fifth on six hits.
Brady Callahan (
Sr.-Sheboygan, Wis.) and
Jared Rear (
Jr.-Belleville, Wis.) both doubled in single runs and
Sterling Dixon (
Jr.-Grayslake, Ill.) doubled in two more runs. Rear's double was part of a three-hit performance that left him a hit shy of a cycle.
Ryan Boettcher (
Sr.-Bonduel, Wis.) also hit a sacrifice fly.
Lakeland fell behind early in the first game, allowing four runs in the first inning before battling back to make it a game. The Muskies got as close as 6-5 in the third inning but could never get the lead in a game that included just one scoreless inning.
Dollinger and Skelton had two hits each in the opener, and Dollinger drove in a pair of runs with a double in the third inning.
Adam Schmitt (
Jr.-Waupun, Wis.) took the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and six runs (five earned) over three innings.
Dollinger and Skelton both finished with four hits over the doubleheader, and Skelton scored four runs. Four different players drove in two runs each.
The Muskies are in action again on Monday when they face the University of Minnesota-Morris in a doubleheader beginning at 8 a.m. Central time.
