Caitlin Fitzgerald (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) hit a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and Leah Binsfeld (So.-Kaukauna, Wis.) pitched her second nine-inning complete game of the season and was rewarded when Lakeland University pulled out a 4-3 win over Concordia University Chicago in the second game of a twinbill Thursday.

Sabrina Wickman (So.-Quinnesec, Mich.) beat a throw home on a roller to shortstop by Morgan Schiedemeyer (Jr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.), scoring the winning run as the Muskies earned a split of the teams' Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader. Concordia won the opening game 6-2 in what also was Lakeland's home opener.

The Muskies (7-9 overall, 1-1 NACC) once again salvaged a same-day split of two games for the seventh straight time, dating back to the first day of their spring break trip to Florida. Their streak of splitting wins and losses was in jeopardy in the second game against the Cougars, who held a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Lakeland got its rally started when Meghan Etten (Sr.-Elkhorn, Wis.) doubled and Wickman followed with an infield single to put runners at the corners. The Muskies eventually loaded the bases but Etten was forced out at home on a grounder to third for the second out. Fitzgerald followed though by poking a single to center to score Wickman and Taylor Bush (Sr.-Waukesha, Wis.).

Both teams struggled to threaten in extra innings until Wickman reached on an infield single to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Cheyenne Mathas (Fr.-St. John, Ind.) then reached on a bunt single and Bush sacrificed both runners up a base. Schiedemeyer followed with an at bat that included a hard foul tip off her foot, but two pitches later she hit a grounder to short, and Wickman scampered home ahead of the throw for the winning run.

Binsfeld picked up the win with her fourth complete game of the season and her second in two days. She pitched all nine innings and allowed nine hits and three runs (two earned), all in the second inning when the Cougars built an early 3-0 lead. Binsfeld also added four strikeouts, fanning the final four batters she faced in lowering her earned run average to 1.87.

Binsfeld also added two hits in the second game, while Wickman went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Etten also added two hits.

The Muskies came up short in the first game, falling into an early 5-0 hole after 2 1/2 innings. Concordia (8-4 overall, 1-1 NACC) scored in each of the first three innings, including three in the second, and starting pitcher Marita Van Dyke held Lakeland to four hits.

Fitzgerald singled to drive in a run, and Jacy Klaske (Fr.-Fond du Lac, Wis.) also stole home as part of a double steal with Etten in the third inning. Lindsay Cudecki (Jr.-Chicago, Ill.) pitched a complete game in defeat, allowing 12 hits and six runs (four earned) with two strikeouts.

Lakeland next will face Dominican University at home on Sunday for a doubleheader starting at noon.