Hailey Jester (Jr.-Salem, Wis.) scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Lakeland University softball team a 3-2 win over Alverno College and a doubleheader sweep Wednesday afternoon.

The Muskies picked up two much-needed Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference wins, also defeating Alverno 11-3 in five innings in the first game. Lakeland climbed closer to the .500 mark overall and in the NACC and is now 14-16 overall and 6-8 in conference play.

The Muskies scored the winning run in the nightcap with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh. Mikayla Hilton (Sr.-Saukville, Wis.) hit a hard shot on the ground at shortstop, but the ball went through the fielder's legs and Jester came home with the winning run to cap a comeback win in a pitchers' duel.

Jester also had an RBI single in the fifth inning to score Sami Jo Williams (Sr.-Sussex, Wis.) and tie the game at 2-2. That marked the first run for Lakeland since Megan Laib (Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.) tripled to lead off the bottom of the first and came in on a bunt by Carly Brault (Jr.-Brillion, Wis.).

Lindsay Cudecki (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits and two runs before giving way to Taylor Bush (So.-Waukesha, Wis.). Bush picked up the win and retired all five batters she faced.

The Muskies took advantage of almost every opportunity in the first game, scoring 11 runs on 11 hits, including six unearned runs to close the game out in the fifth inning. Lakeland also added two double plays defensively on the way to turning three double plays in the doubleheader.

The Muskies led 5-3 heading into the fifth but scored six runs after a pair of Alverno errors. Laib singled in a run, Jocelyn Yeager (Sr.-Elm Grove, Wis.) doubled to drive in a pair, Jester singled up the middle to score two more and then Calie Delisi (Jr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) tripled to send in Jester with the run to end the game on account of the eight-run rule.

Laib was 3-for-3 in the opener with two runs batted in and two runs scored, winding up the day with five hits. Delisi added two hits in the first game, Jester drove in three runs and Paige Chladek (Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) added two RBIs. Niki Saviano (Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) earned the win in the circle, allowing five hits and three runs with two strikeouts.

Ashlie Rossi pitched both games for Alverno (10-18 overall, 3-9 NACC) and took the loss in both despite pitching well in the second game, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned). Andie Vandertie led the Inferno with three hits over the two games.

The Muskies will be on the road this weekend for a pair of doubleheaders in Illinois, starting with a trip to Aurora University Saturday at noon.