MILWAUKEE – The Lakeland College softball team came through when it counted to score a pair of wins over Alverno College Saturday afternoon in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.
The Muskies twice erupted in what turned out to be their last at bat to break open tie games and go on to wins, defeating the Inferno 5-1 in eight innings in the first game and 7-2 in the second. Lakeland earned its first twinbill sweep in the NACC and is now 4-6 in conference play and back to .500 overall at 12-12.
The Muskies scored four times in the top of the eighth inning of the first game for their second extra-inning win of the season. The victory came in a game where Lakeland finished with just six hits, including two hits in its final rally.
The go-ahead run scored when
Sarah Seaton (
Fr.-Stoughton, Wis.) reached on an error, with
Meghan Etten (
Fr.-Elkhorn, Wis.) scoring to make it 2-1.
Mikayla Hilton (
Jr.-Port Washington, Wis.) followed with a two-run double and
Jessica Beaudry (
So.-Gladstone, Mich.) drove in another run with a ground out.
Lakeland was again involved in a tie game heading into the seventh inning of the nightcap but once again delivered at the plate, scoring five times.
The lead run again scored on a one-out error, as
Angela Tribuzio (
So.-Huntley, Ill.) reached on an error while Etten came in to score. Beaudry then followed with an RBI single,
Calie Delisi (
So.-Oak Forest, Ill.) drove in a run while reaching on a fielder's choice,
Hailey Jester (
So.-Salem, Wis.) singled in a run and then Etten walked to drive in another run, as 11 Muskies batted in the inning.
Lakeland also received quality pitching throughout the day, as four hurlers combined to allow just three runs in 15 innings.
Taylor Bush (
Fr.-Waukesha, Wis.) threw a complete game in the opener, allowing six hits and one run with four strikeouts in eight innings for her sixth win.
A.J. Zickuhr (
Fr.-Bettendorf, Iowa) started the second game and tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs before
Savannah Stenlund (
So.-Rapid River, Mich.) came on in relief and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings earning the win.
Rikki Vela (
Fr.-Beach Park, Ill.) also came on and got the final out of the game.
Jester finished with three hits on the day to lead the offense, with
Rylee Garand (
Fr.-Punta Gorda, Fla.) adding two hits in the first game and Seaton and
Rosa Gonzalez (
So.-Elwood, Ill.) two hits each in the second game
The Muskies are back home Sunday when they welcome Wisconsin Lutheran College at noon for a doubleheader.
