PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Cheyenne Mathas (Jr.-St. John, Ind.) scored the winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game and had a huge game at the plate in the second as the Lakeland University softball team swept Alverno College in a doubleheader Monday afternoon.

The Muskies fought back from five runs down and after trailing most of the way to nip the Inferno 7-6 in game one and then rolled to a 15-1 victory in five innings in the second game. Lakeland improved to 4-13-1 overall on the season and evened its Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference North Division record at 3-3.

Mathas started and finished the Muskies' game-winning rally in the opener, first getting on base with a bunt single to lead off the bottom of the seventh. She moved to second after Madi Johnson (Fr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) also reached on an infield single, and the two then executed a successful double-steal that became the game-winning play when Alverno catcher Megan Bradford threw wide of third base, allowing Mathas to come in to score.

Lakeland came back after trailing 5-0 and 6-1 in the early innings of the first game, including scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. The Muskies still trailed 6-3 with two outs in sixth until Gabby Greetan (So.-Manitowoc, Wis.) delivered a pinch-hit RBI single, and Hannah Nelson (Fr.-Loves Park, Ill.) followed with a triple to the left field corner to score two more and tie the game at 6-6.

Alverno (1-12 overall, 0-5 NACC North) came out strong, using four doubles over the first two innings to build an early lead and chase starter Leah Binsfeld (Sr.-Kaukauna, Wis.) after two innings. Johnson came on relief and was outstanding, holding the Inferno scoreless over five innings. The freshman allowed just one hit while striking out six and picked up her first collegiate win.

The Muskies struggled most of the first game but had no such problems in the second, scoring at least twice in all four at bats and ending the game in five innings on account of the eight-run rule. Nelson and Mathas again led the team with both having dominant performances.

Mathas went 3-for-3 plus a walk, two runs scored and a career-high six runs batted in, including a bases-clearing triple as part of a six-run third inning. Nelson went 3-for-3 with a walk, two RBIs and four runs scored, and when the freshman wasn't on base she was shutting down the Inferno in the circle, allowing just three hits and a run over five innings in earning the win.

Maddie Bentley (Fr.-West Bend, Wis.) and Sydney Wickman (Sr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) both added two hits each and Wickman scored three times, while twin sister Sabrina Wickman (Sr.-Quinnesec, Mich.) also scored three runs. Freshman Carson Terry (Plainfield, Ill.) also added a pinch hit two-run single, improving to 3-for-3 on the season in pinch hit appearances.

The Muskies conclude their four-game series with Alverno with two more games Wednesday on the road in Milwaukee, with the first game starting at 3 p.m.