With runs at a premium all day, Lakeland University was resourceful in finding a way to get on the board and going on to claim a 3-1 win over Wisconsin Lutheran College in the second game of a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader.

The Muskies followed up a 2-0 loss in the first game of the day to earn a split and put the brakes on a five-game losing streak in conference play filled with close defeats. Lakeland also won in just its second home date of the season and improved to 9-17 overall and 4-8 in the NACC.

The Muskies were held to 11 hits over the two games, including five in the nightcap. Lakeland was able to score three runs early in that game, with none of them coming on a hit as runs crossed the plate via a double steal, a squeeze bunt and a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

The hosts got on the board twice in the second, the first time when pinch runner Sabrina Wickman (Fr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) and twin sister Sydney Wickman (Fr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) executed a double-steal, with Sabrina crossing home plate after Sydney's swipe of second. Sydney Wickman also went to third on a throwing error on the play, and she came home when next batter Carly Brault (Sr.-Brillion, Wis.) put down a perfect bunt, one that allowed her to also reach base after the run scored.

The Muskies also scored another run in the third when Calie Delisi (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) reached on an error, Amber Andersen (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) reached on a fielder's choice and Rosa Gonzalez (Sr.-Elwood, Ill.) walked to load the bases. Madi Olson (So.-Eau Claire, Wis.) then hit a grounder to shortstop Melissa Ericsson, who tagged Andersen but then threw wild to first trying to get the double play, allowing pinch runner A.J. Zickuhr (Jr.-Bettendorf, Iowa) to score.

That was enough run support for Taylor Bush (Jr.-Waukesha, Wis.), who threw six-plus innings and allowed six hits and just a single run in the fourth inning. Bush picked up her second win of the season, while Lindsay Cudecki (So.-Chicago, Ill.) earned her first collegiate save after coming on in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning.

The two teams combined for 12 hits in the second game, but the first contest was even more of a pitcher's duel. WLC's Abby Mahsem twirled a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits while striking out eight, besting an outstanding effort by Lakeland's Rikki Vela (Jr.-Beach Park, Ill.).

Vela also tossed a complete game and allowed just four hits with two strikeouts. She also surrendered just two unearned runs, as both Wisconsin Lutheran runs scored after errors in the first and second innings.

Delisi posted two hits in the first game, one of just two players on the day to have a multi-hit game. Rebecca Foster also had two hits in the second game for WLC (10-14 overall, 4-6 NACC.).

Lakeland is back on the field Tuesday when it hosts Concordia University Wisconsin for a doubleheader rescheduled from earlier in the month. The first game is set to start at 3 p.m.