CLERMONT, Fla. –
Taylor Bush (
Jr.-Waukesha, Wis.) pitched a complete game three-hitter and
Paige Chladek (
So.-Orland Park, Ill.) provided a good share of the offense as the Lakeland University softball team defeated Westfield State (Mass.) University 4-1 on Tuesday at the PFX Spring Games.
The Muskies gained a split of their two games on the third day of their spring break trip with the win. Lakeland was defeated by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls 10-8 in its first game, and after its two games Tuesday is now 2-4 on its Florida trip and 4-6 overall this season.
Bush twirled a gem against Westfield State's Owls, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out one and walking three. She also received considerable help from Chladek, who opened the scoring in the first with a two-run home run in the top of the first.
Chladek also added a pair of doubles in a power-hitting display where she went 3-for-4, leading an 11-hit attack.
Madi Olson (
So.-Eau Claire, Wis.) also reached base three times with a pair of hits and a walk, and
A.J. Zickuhr (
Jr.-Bettendorf, Iowa) added an RBI double as in all eight different players had hits.
Lakeland would've been on track for a sweep of both of its games on the day but for a tough finish in its opener. UW-River Falls scored twice in the sixth and then five times in the seventh, erasing the Muskies' 7-3 lead going into the sixth.
The Falcons scored seven times on seven hits and also received the benefit of three Lakeland errors in the final two innings. UW-River Falls finished with 17 hits in a game where not just runs but hits were plentiful, with the Muskies also banging out 14 hits.
Calie Delisi (
Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) was 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs, including a solo homer. Chladek also added another two-run home run and went 2-for-5, and
Meghan Etten (
Jr.-Elkhorn, Wis.),
Lexia Upson (
So.-Waterford, Mich.) and
Amber Anderson (
Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) all also added two hits each, with Upson adding a pair of walks to reach in all four plate appearances.
The Muskies get a day off Wednesday before returning to play Thursday with a pair of games. Lakeland will take on Saint Mary's (Ind.) College for the second time on the trip starting at 8 a.m. Central and then will face Transylvania (Ky.) University at noon Central time.