KISSIMMEE, Fla. –
Carly Brault (
Jr.-Brillion, Wis.) delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Lakeland University softball team finally found success in a one-run game when it defeated Penn State University-Altoona 6-5 Friday.
Brault singled down the right field line to drive in
Hailey Jester (
Jr.-Salem, Wis.) with the winning run as the Muskies closed out their spring break trip on a good note. Lakeland comes back home to Wisconsin with a 6-8 overall record and finished 4-6 in 10 games in Florida.
The Muskies rallied from deficits twice to defeat the Lions, including after falling behind 3-0 in the first inning.
Jessica Beaudry (
Jr.-Gladstone, Mich.) pounded out three hits and
Mikayla Hilton (
Sr.-Port Washington, Wis.) and
Caten Teff (
Sr.-Alpena, Mich.) added two hits each. Teff also doubled in two runs as part of a three-run third to tie the game at 3-3.
Lakeland looked like it may be set up for heartbreak again when Penn State-Altoona's Abby Showers singled with two outs in the top of the seventh to score Haley Giedroc and tie the game at 5-5. The game went to extra innings with the international tiebreaker used, and the winning rally started with Jester placed on second base in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Meghan Etten (
So.-Elkhorn, Wis.) sacrificed her over to third, and Brault delivered the big hit to snap the team's four-game losing streak in contests decided by one run.
Taylor Bush (
So.-Waukesha, Wis.) came on in relief in the eighth inning and held the Lions hitless in picking up her third win of the season.
The Muskies won their second game after opening the day with a 5-1 loss to Rowan (N.J.) University. Lakeland was held to three hits and the Profs scored all five runs in innings 4-6 to earn the win.
Lakeland took a 1-0 lead in the third when
Niki Saviano (
Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) walked with two out and then came around to score on Hilton's double. The Muskies had just one more hit the rest of the game, though, and Rowan scored three times in the fourth to take the lead and added two more in the sixth.
Hilton finished with two of Lakeland's three hits, while
Calie Delisi (
Jr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) added the other hit. Saviano took the loss, pitching three-plus innings and allowing three hits and three runs (two earned).
The Muskies now have several weeks off and won't be in action again until facing Edgewood College in their home opener Saturday, April 1 at noon.