KISSIMMEE, Fla. –  Caten Teff (Sr.-Alpena, Mich.) had three hits, including a go-ahead two-run double in the fifth inning, and the Lakeland University softball team defeated Defiance (Ohio) College 10-4 in the first of two games Monday at the Rebel Spring Games.

The Muskies finished the second day of their spring break trip with another split after falling to DeSales (Pa.) University 8-7 in their second game of the day. Lakeland is now 4-4 overall this season and 2-2 in Florida.

The opening game was tied in the fifth inning when the Muskies broke ahead with four runs. After Mackenzie Gray (Fr.-Fernandina Beach, Fla.) and Mikayla Hilton (Sr.-Port Washington, Wis.) reached with one out, Teff doubled to drive in both. Niki Saviano (Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) followed with a double to score Teff, and Rylee Garand (So.-Punta Gorda, Fla.) continued the quick strikes immediately after with an RBI single for an 8-4 lead.

Hilton and Morgan Schiedemeyer (Fr.-Port Washington, Wis.) also had home runs on the day, part of a 17-hit attack that included 12 different players collecting hits. In the circle it was Saviano coming on in the fourth inning and pitching 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run and collecting her second win in two days.

Lakeland also got off to a good start in its second game and held a 6-1 lead after four innings that included a four-run third. The four runs came in a bizarre frame that included six DeSales errors and not a single hit credited to the Muskies.

The Bulldogs rallied with two runs in the fifth and then four in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead, but Lakeland came back to tie it when Calie Delisi (Jr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) walked with the bases loaded. DeSales rallied again in the top of the seventh, though, stringing four straight singles together to push across the go-ahead run.

Hilton and Sami Jo Williams (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) both had two hits each to lead the offense. Megan Laib (Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.) also scored two runs.