FORT MYERS, Fla. – Lakeland University received excellent hitting and pitching in a doubleheader sweep of Hiram (Ohio) College to open its baseball season Saturday at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Games.

The Muskies started off their spring break trip with victories by scores of 15-2 and 7-2 in a pair of seven-inning games. Lakeland opened its season with a doubleheader sweep in Fort Myers for the second straight season.

The Muskies hammered out 15 hits in the first game against Hiram (2-8 overall) and scored in five of the first six innings, putting up four in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth and five in the fifth. Freshman Jacob Plucinski (Chicago, Ill.) opened going 4-for-4 with four runs batted in and three runs scored, Travis Regalado (Jr.-Willcox, Ariz.) added three hits and three RBIs and Drew Richard (Sr.-Kieler, Wis.) reached base four times and scored four times.

On the mound, sophomore Dylan Royce (Nekoosa, Wis.) was in control, throwing a complete game and allowing just five hits. Royce surrendered two runs with four strikeouts and closed strong, retiring the final seven hitters he faced.

Lakeland also got the jump early in the second game with three quick runs in the bottom of the first. Regalado doubled to drive in two and later scored to give starter Collin Schutz (Fr.-Saint Amant, La.) an early cushion.

Schutz made it stand up with a strong college debut. He went the distance and allowed just six hits and two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts for his first collegiate win.

Richard and Justin Wahl Adame (Fr.-Riverside, Calif.) both had two hits each to lead the hitting attack and Alberto Oliveras (Fr.-Fort Myers, Fla.) reached base three times with a single and two walks and drove in two.

The Muskies are in action again Sunday for a doubleheader with Haverford (Pa.) College starting at 11 a.m. Central time.