CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lakeland University softball team exploded for 12 runs in the first three innings and went on to defeat Monmouth (Ill.) College for its first win on the young season on the second day of the PFX Spring Games.
The Muskies defeated the Fighting Scots 12-6 to start the second day of their spring break trip before falling to the University of Dubuque (Iowa) 9-1 in five innings in their second game. Lakeland is now 1-3 after two days of its six-day, 10-game Florida trip.
The Muskies scored five times in both the first and third innings and added two runs in the second frame as well. Lakeland hammered out 12 hits over the three innings, including three from leadoff hitter
Sabrina Wickman (
Jr.-Quinnesec, Mich.), who stole two bases, scored three times and also drove in a run.
Juliana Hall (
Fr.-Portage, Ind.) and
Morgan Schiedemeyer (
Sr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) both added run-scoring singles in the first inning and
Lexi Upson (
Sr.-Waterford, Mich.) and
Madi Olson (
Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis.) also both added two-run doubles.
Hall, Upson and
Caitlin Fitzgerald (
Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) all added two hits each for the game, part of a 13-hit attack in the game.
Hannah Verhunce (
Fr.-Theresa, Wis.) pitched the first three innings and allowed six hits and four runs (three earned) before freshman
Ariana Brown (
Beloit, Wis.) came on and threw four innings, allowing two hits and two runs.
The Muskies fell victim to two big innings in the second game against Dubuque, which scored three times in the first and added five more in the fourth to blow the game open.
Lakeland scored its lone run in the top of the second as Wickman singled with the bases loaded to score Olson. The Muskies strung together four hits in the inning, including singles by
Hannah Hornsby (
So.-Brookville, Ind.), Olson and
Lindsay Cudecki (
Sr.-Chicago, Ill.) but two strikeouts and a fielder's choice helped the Spartans (5-2 overall) get out of it.
Six different players finished with one hit each for Lakeland. Cudecki started in the circle and allowed eight runs in 3 2/3 innings before
Marissa Varela (
Fr.-Calumet City, Ill.) pitched the final 1/3 of an inning.
Lakeland plays two more on Tuesday, opening first against Lake Forest (Ill.) College at 9 a.m. Eastern time, 8 a.m. Central and then taking on Cornell (Iowa) College immediately after.
