Lakeland College scored seven times in the third inning, blowing open a close game quickly and going on to a 10-1 win over Concordia University Wisconsin Thursday afternoon in the team's long-awaited home opener.

The Muskies gained a split of the doubleheader with the win in the second game, avenging a 9-3 loss in the first game. The two teams were finally playing their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference twinbill that had been scheduled and changed three times prior.

Lakeland (10-12 overall, 2-6 NACC) turned around the second game by sending 11 batters to the plate in the third inning. The Muskies recorded timely hits and also took advantage of four Falcon errors in the inning.

Hailey Jester (So.-Salem, Wis.) and Calie Delisi (So.-Oak Forest, Ill.) both singled in a pair of runs and Angela Tribuzio (So.-Huntley, Ill.) also singled in a run in the inning. Lakeland also scored five of its seven runs after two were out, and all seven runs were unearned against Concordia pitchers.

The runs were all the offense A.J. Zickuhr (Bettendorf, Iowa) would need, as the freshman hurler-and the defense behind her-baffled CUW through five innings. Zickuhr allowed five hits and one run with one strikeout, recording 10 outs via ground outs and getting her second win of the season. The Muskies also were slick with the glove, and junior third baseman Mikayla Hilton (Port Washington, Wis.) in particular had a pair of superb plays, including one to save a run in the third inning.

Tribuzio, Rylee Garand (Fr.-Punta Gorda, Fla.) and Jessica Beaudry (So.-Gladstone, Mich.) all had two hits each in the second game, while Tribuzio and Beaudry also both scored two runs each.

Lakeland fell behind early in the opener, unable to keep pace as Concordia (12-10 overall, 4-2 NACC) scored nine runs in the first four innings. Every hitter in the lineup had at least one hit for the Falcons, who scored two runs in the first and second innings plus five more in the fourth.

Caten Teff (Jr.-Alpena, Mich.) had two hits and drove in a run to lead the offense in the first game, while Tribuzio and Beaudry also both knocked in runs. Taylor Bush (Fr.-Waukesha, Wis.) started and pitched the first five innings before Rikki Vela (Fr.-Beach Park, Ill.) came on in relief for the final two innings.

The Muskies are back in action Saturday when they travel to face Alverno College for a doubleheader in Milwaukee beginning at noon.