CLERMONT, Fla. –
Leah Binsfeld (
Jr.-Kaukauna, Wis.) and
Hannah Hornsby (
So.-Brookville, Ind.) both drove in three runs each and the Lakeland University softball team held off Lake Forest (Ill.) College 8-7 in the first of two games Tuesday at the PFX Spring Games.
The Muskies were involved in a pair of nailbiters on the third day of their spring break trip, as in their second game of the day Cornell (Iowa) College came back to defeat Lakeland 6-5 in eight innings. The Muskies finished the day with a 2-4 overall record on the season and on their Florida trip so far.
Binsfeld provided the biggest blow for Lakeland's 10-hit attack against Lake Forest, hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning for a 7-4 lead.
Hornsby also drove in a run while reaching on an error in the bottom of the second, getting the Muskies' scoring started and cutting the Foresters' lead to 3-1. The next inning she added a two-run single as part of a three-run third, putting Lakeland ahead 4-3.
Sydney Wickman (
Jr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) and
Cheyenne Mathas (
So.-St. John, Ind.) also both added RBI singles, and Mathas reached base four times including two hits, two walks and two runs scored. Binsfeld also went the distance pitching for the Muskies, getting the win while allowing 11 hits and seven runs with a strikeout.
Lakeland also got off to a flying start in the second game, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Hornsby hit a two-run triple to center to score
Sabrina Wickman (
Jr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) and
Lexi Upson (
Sr.-Waterford, Mich.), and both Hornsby and
Sydney Wickman would score on errors later in the inning.
The Muskies would hold the lead right down until there were two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when the Rams scored twice to tie the game at 5-5 after two Lakeland errors. International tiebreaker rules were used in the eighth inning, and the Muskies loaded the bases with one out but did not score. Cornell would take advantage of its opportunity, bunting the initial runner over to third and then scoring on an infield grounder to win it.
Hornsby and
Sydney Wickman both had three hits each against the Rams.
Lindsay Cudecki (
Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) pitched the whole way for Lakeland, allowing 11 hits and six runs (three earned) in 7 1/3 innings.
The Muskies have the day off Wednesday before returning to the field Thursday for two more games. Lakeland will first take on Montclair State (N.J.) University at 8 a.m. Central (9 a.m. in Florida) and then faces Marywood University (Pa.) at 12:45 p.m. Central, 1:45 Eastern time.
