FORT MYERS, Fla. – Alfred State (N.Y.) College scored five runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless stalemate and the Lakeland University baseball was defeated 10-2 in its season opener Monday afternoon as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Games.

The Muskies opened their spring break trip with a loss as the Pioneers scored all ten of their runs in their final three at bats. Lakeland received a good first start from freshman starting pitcher Nathan Hemmerling (Riverside, Calif.) but was hurt by errors leading to eight unearned runs in the late going.

Hemmerling pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and three runs, all as part of the five-run sixth. All three runs were unearned, though, and he also struck out five and walked one in a strong collegiate debut.

The Pioneers (2-5 overall) also added three more runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to take a 10-0 lead. The Muskies did get on the board in the ninth when Alberto Oliveras (So.-Fort Myers, Fla.) scored after Justin Wahl Adame (So.-Riverside, Calif.) reached on an error, and Hunter Frisk (Fr.-Manteca, Calif.) followed with an RBI single to drive in Adame.

Lakeland was held to just four hits as Afred State's Kaleb Smothers was dominant, pitching a complete game and striking out four. At the plate, Josh Laurie was 4-for-5 for the Pioneers with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Peyton Knoll (Sr.-Linden, Mich.) was the lone Muskie to reach base twice, going 1-for-2 with a single and also reaching on a walk.

Lakeland is in action again Tuesday when plays the United States Coast Guard Academy bright and early at 8 a.m. Central time, 9 a.m. in Florida. The Muskies will then come right back and face Alfred State for the second time on the trip.