PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Edgewood College pounded out 26 hits over two games and the Lakeland University softball team saw its winning streak snapped with a pair of losses Thursday afternoon in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.
The Eagles opened the doubleheader with a 10-6 win in the first game to halt the Muskies' six-game winning streak. Edgewood then controlled the second game for a 9-2 victory to complete the sweep and a frustrating day for Lakeland, which dropped to 13-8 overall and 8-4 in conference.
From start to finish the Eagles (16-14 overall, 9-5 NACC) got the best of Lakeland's normally stout pitching this season. The Muskies entered the day with a team earned run average of 2.51 and allowing opponents an average of just over three runs per game, but Edgewood notched the two highest single-game totals in both runs scored and hits by a Lakeland opponent this season.
The guests posted 15 hits in the first game and overcame an early Muskies lead with big fourth and fifth innings.
Lakeland scored twice in the bottom of the first as
Hannah Nelson (
So.-Loves Park, Ill.) and
Madi Johnson (
So.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) led off with singles and
Juliana Hall (
Jr.-Portage, Ind.) and
Cheyenne Mathas (
Sr.-St. John, Ind.) followed with a sacrifice fly and run-scoring ground out, respectively. The Muskies also answered an Edgewood run in the third with a run of their own to take a 3-1 lead, but the Eagles took the lead with three runs in the fourth and then added four runs in the fifth. Edgewood sent ten batters to the plate in the fifth, including a leadoff homer by Alyse Maurer.
The Eagles added on two more runs in the seventh for a 10-4 lead, though Lakeland received a brief jolt in its final at bat when Johnson's drive into the gap in right-center went underneath the diving attempt of center fielder Lauren Hillmann, and Johnson raced all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
Hopes for a Muskies' turnaround in the second game took a hit early when with one runner on lefty hitter Liz Malarski turned on a pitch inside from
Makenna Hullinger (
Fr.-St. John, Ind.) and sent a high drive down the right field line that with a friendly wind sailed over the fence for a two-run home run and gave Edgewood an early 2-0 lead.
The Eagles extended the lead to 4-0 with two more in the third before Lakeland answered with two in the bottom of the third on an RBI triple by Hall followed immediately after by a single by Mathas to score Hall. Missed opportunities proved to be a theme in the second game, though, and the Muskies put just two on the board despite five hits in the inning, having a runner picked off at first base and two more stranded at second and third to end the frame.
Lakeland stranded at least one runner in every inning the rest of the way, including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Edgewood pulled away with three runs in the fourth and one each in the sixth and seventh to finish the sweep.
Johnson,
Jordan August (
Fr.-Schererville, Ind.) and
Hannah Volom (
Fr.-Portage, Ind.) all finished with three hits each on the day.
Skylar Hall (
So.-Negaunee, Mich.) took the loss in the first game, allowing nine hits and four runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings while striking out three. Hullinger pitched a complete game in the second and allowed 11 hits and nine runs (six earned) with seven strikeouts. The Muskies also struggled in the field, committing four errors in both contests, most in a game this season.
Leadoff hitter Olivia Hebert led Edgewood with six hits on the day, including going 4-for-5 in the second game with a single, two doubles and a triple. The Eagles' No. 9, 1, 2 and 3 hitters were trouble all day, combining for 17 of the team's 26 hits.
The Muskies are back home Saturday when they host Marian University for a doubleheader starting at noon.
