The Lakeland University softball team saw its chances to defeat a nationally ranked team slip away late as the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh scored seven times in the seventh inning of an eventual 9-6 win Tuesday evening.
The Titans answered an earlier Muskies' comeback with an even bigger one of their own to win the second game of a doubleheader. UW-Oshkosh also posted a 9-1 win in the first game, as Lakeland dropped to 14-22 overall with the losses in its final non-conference games of the season.
The Muskies appeared all set in the second game to knock off the 17th-ranked team in the most recent NFCA NCAA Division III top 25 coaches poll after a stunning fifth inning rally. Lakeland exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Megan Laib (
Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.) and
Mikayla Hilton (
Sr.-Saukville, Wis.) both drove in a pair and
Paige Chladek (
Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) added an RBI double as the hosts turned a 2-0 deficit into a 6-2 lead.
The Muskies still took that 6-2 lead into the seventh inning when Oshkosh (24-8 overall) found its stroke. With one out, the Titans strung together seven straight hits, including six consecutive singles. When all was over, Oshkosh had scored seven times, and Lakeland was unable to come back despite getting the tying run to the plate in its last at bat.
The finish spoiled what had been an excellent pitching performance by
Lindsay Cudecki (
Fr.-Chicago, Ill.), who scattered nine hits in the first six innings but regularly worked out of trouble and was in line for her first collegiate win. It took three relievers to get through the seventh, though, as UWO sent 12 batters to the plate.
The Titans had an easier time in the first game, scoring twice in the second inning and leading the rest of the way. UW-Oshkosh capitalized on four Muskies errors and broke the game open with four runs in the sixth inning.
Hilton and Laib both had three hits each on the day and combined for four doubles.
Niki Saviano (
Fr.-Orland Park, Ill.) took the loss in the first game after throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned), while
Taylor Bush (
So.-Waukesha, Wis.) received the loss in the second game after surrendering four hits and three runs (two earned) in relief.
Claire Petrus had five hits and four runs batted in on the day for UWO and also picked up the win in the second game in relief, while Lauren Torborg also went 4-for-4 in the second game. Sara Brunlieb picked up the win in the first game and then the save in the second.
The Muskies are scheduled to play their final home games of the season on Friday when they host Rockford (Ill.) University for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.
