JAN PHYL VILLAGE, Fla. – The Lakeland University softball team ended the varsity portion of its spring break in smashing fashion, exploding out of the gates in the first inning and defeating Knox (Ill.) College 16-4 in five innings in its finale at The Spring Games Friday at the Auburndale Softball Complex.

The Muskies put up a big 10-spot in the first inning in a blowout of the Prairie Fire, exploding offensively after a low-scoring 3-1 loss to Endicott (Mass.) College earlier in the day. Lakeland finished with a 7-3 record on its spring break and is 7-5 overall on the season as it heads back to Wisconsin after a pair of varsity reserve contests in Florida Saturday.

Coming off a competitive but frustrating loss in its opener for the day, Lakeland sent 14 batters to the plate in the first against Knox (2-8 overall). Jordan August (So.-Schererville, Ind.) drove in four runs in the first frame alone with a two-run single to get the scoring started and a two-run double to make it 9-0.

Haylee Dodd (Fr.-Kenosha, Wis.) and Madi Johnson (Jr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) also both delivered two-run singles, Carlie Morrow (Fr.-Menasha, Wis.) and Abby Heitman (Fr.-St. Francis, Wis.) also added back-to-back RBI singles and Hannah Nelson (Jr.-Loves Park, Ill.) reached on a walk and a double, stole two bases and scored twice in the inning. The Muskies stole eight bases in the inning in all and scored eight runs off Knox starting pitcher Maddie Hicks before she exited after two-thirds of an inning.

Lakeland wasn't done scoring, as with a 10-3 lead entering the fourth the Muskies would score six more runs. Morrow and Heitman hit back-to-back RBI doubles, and Dodd and Nelson would perform the same feat later in the inning. August also added an RBI single and Johnson followed with a triple to score August and make it 16-3 in the fourth.

August went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, Morrow went 3-for-3 and Dodd, Heitman, Johnson and Nelson all added two hits each. Dodd and Johnson also drove in three runs each. Johnson also pitched all five innings and earned her second win of the trip, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) with two strikeouts.

The Muskies' breakout against the Prairie Fire came after a loss to Endicott in the opener where they were unable to cash in despite ample opportunities.

Lakeland fell behind 2-0 in the first inning when the Gulls (7-3 overall), the two-time defending champions of the Commonwealth Coast Conference,  scored a pair of runs with two out against Skylar Hall (Jr.-Negaunee, Mich.), including a single down the left field line by Lauren Misiaszek and an error allowing a second run to score.

The Muskies would get a run back when Nelson homered to left center to lead off the bottom of the third, her second home run of the week, but Endicott answered with Emma DaSilva hitting a home run to center to start the fourth. The hit by DaSilva was one of just two allowed by Hall over the final 6 1/3 innings, and Lakeland would finish the game stranding nine runners.

The Muskies put the leadoff runner on board in five of the seven innings, left two on base in both the first and third innings, and loaded the bases in the seventh. Lakeland would actually post two hits and two walks in the inning, but Morrow was called out on a controversial call attempting to steal second, and the game ended when Johnson hit a pop up to second base that was caught by the shortstop DaSilva.

Dodd finished with two hits and Hall lost for the second time in six starts, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) with six strikeouts and two walks. Endicott starter Rania Barton earned the win, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing five hits with five strikeouts and four walks before Abigail Gilbert recorded the final out for the save.

The Muskies are scheduled to return to action Saturday, March 25 to host Mount Mary University for a doubleheader at home starting at 1 p.m.