Lakeland University came from well behind to put a late scare into Benedictine University before falling 6-4 in the second game of the teams' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader Saturday.

The Muskies dropped two close decisions against one of the conference's best teams, with the Eagles also posting a 5-2 win in the first game of the day. Lakeland is now 10-24 overall and 5-15 in the NACC with two games remaining in its season Sunday.

Lakeland trailed 6-1 in the sixth inning of the second game before picking up a run in the sixth inning and then putting together an extended challenge in the seventh. The Muskies closed within 6-2 on a sacrifice fly by Niki Saviano (So.-Orland Park, Ill.) that scored Carly Brault (Sr.-Brillion, Wis.), and then put more pressure on when Amber Andersen (Fr.-Chicago, Ill.) followed up a pair of singles with a smash to center field to score Meghan Etten (Jr.-Elkhorn, Wis.) and make it 6-3.

Lakeland then loaded the bases and Brault walked with the bases loaded to make it 6-4 and put the tying run at second base with still only one out. Benedictine pitcher Becky Karlinski was able to retire the final two hitters, though, including a fielder's choice to force out Andersen at the plate for the second out.

The Muskies outhit the Eagles 11-9 in the second game, with Andersen, Brault, Etten and Calie Delisi (Sr.-Oak Forest, Ill.) all posting two hits each. Taylor Bush (Jr.-Waukesha, Wis.) took the loss, allowing five runs in 1 2/3 innings, while Lindsay Cudecki (So.-Chicago, Ill.) came on in relief in the second and pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and just one run.

Lakeland also was in contention in the first game, leading early and trailing just 3-2 until Benedictine (27-13 overall, 17-5 NACC) scored two big insurance runs in the sixth.

Benedictine scored first in the top of the first, but Delisi drove in runs in the first and third innings, the second on an RBI groundout to score Brault and give the Muskies a 2-1 lead. The Eagles countered with single runs in the fourth and fifth to regain the lead, and then added two in the sixth off an error and then a run-scoring single, both coming with two out.

Karlinski pitched complete games to get the win in both contests, and in the first game she held Lakeland to four hits. Saviano started and matched her a good portion of the way before departing after 5 2/3, having allowed 10 hits and five runs (three earned).

The Muskies wrap up their season Sunday when they face another NACC power in Aurora University at home at noon. It will be Senior Day for five seniors on this year's team: Brault, Delisi, Rosa Gonzalez (Elwood, Ill.), Hailey Jester (Salem, Wis.) plus manager Rachel Conery.