LISLE, Ill. – Facing a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference power for the third time in a week, the Lakeland College softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader with Benedictine (Ill.) University Monday afternoon at the Benedictine Sports Complex.

The Eagles won the opening game 3-0 and then used a seven-run first inning on the way to an 11-3 victory in the nightcap. Lakeland dropped to 6-16 overall and 0-6 in the NACC, with each of its first three conference doubleheaders coming against the teams picked to finish in the top three in the league's preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.

Freshman Savannah Stenlund (Rapid River, Mich.) pitched well in the first game, throwing a complete game and allowing seven hits and three runs with two strikeouts. Benedictine (17-4 overall, 8-0 NACC) scored its lone runs with tally in the first and a two-run home run by No. 9 hitter Jenna Boyajian in the bottom of the fourth.

Eagles pitcher Holly Haberkorn was in control, though, allowing just two hits while fanning six in a complete game shutout. Rosa Gonzalez (Fr.-Elwood, Ill.) and Bella Wilkinson (Fr.-Evergreen Park, Ill.) had the lone hits for the Muskies, who missed a chance in the first inning and then mustered just two base runners the rest of the game.

Lakeland loaded the bases in the first inning after a pair of walks sandwiched around a single by Gonzalez. Stenlund bounced back to the pitcher, though, as the Muskies stranded three.

Lakeland was far more opportunistic in the first inning of the second game by scoring three times. Angela Tribuzio (Fr.-Huntley, Ill.) doubled to score Gonzalez, Calie Delisi (Fr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) reached on an error while Tribuzio scored, and Wilkinson singled up the middle to score Delisi.

Benedictine responded sharply, though, by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the inning. Courtney Grasz delivered the biggest blow with a grand slam as the Eagles went through three Muskie pitchers in the inning on the way to a convincing win in five innings.

Tribuzio, Wilkinson and Ashley Hough (Sr.-Rapid River, Mich.) all had two hits each, accounting for all six of the Muskies' hits. Delisi added a stolen base.

Grasz drove in five runs for the Eagles, while Kailee Cable was 4-for-4 and scored three runs for the Eagles. Eryn Pondo came on in the second inning and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.

Lakeland is back in conference play on Wednesday when it faces Marian University for a doubleheader in Fond du Lac beginning at 3 p.m.