KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Lakeland University softball team extended its winning streak to five games with a comeback win over the University of New England (Maine) before taking its first loss in six games on its spring break trip to Florida.

The Muskies battled back from a five-run deficit to defeat the New England 8-6 in their first game Thursday. Lakeland then was dealt its first loss on its trip by a narrow margin, falling to the University of Rochester (N.Y.) 2-1 to drop to 5-1 through three days of play at the Clermont Spring Games and 5-3 overall this season.

The Muskies trailed New England (1-6) by a 6-1 score after the Nor'easters scored five times in the top of the third inning. Lakeland rallied in the fourth and fifth innings, though, scoring five times in the fourth and then taking the lead with two more in the bottom of the fifth.

Nine batters went to the plate in the fourth as a combination of four hits plus three UNE errors produced five runs. Abby Heitman (So.-St. Francis, Wis.) singled to drive in Maddie Raske (Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.), who led off and reached on an error, and Mackenzie Ondrejcak (Fr.-Aurora, Ill.) later hit a two-run single to close the Muskies within 6-4. Hannah Nelson (Sr.-Loves Park, Ill.) later hit a sacrifice fly, and Madi Johnson (Sr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) singled to center with two outs to score Ondrejcak and tie the game at 6-6.

Lakeland was in business again in the fifth when Raske led off with a double, and pinch runner Callie Linders (Fr.-Griffith, Ind.) moved to third on a groundout by Heitman. Linders would then score the go-ahead run when Haylee Dodd (So.-Kenosha, Wis.) hit a sac fly to center field, and Ondrejcak would add another run with a two-out single to score Peyton Harlow (So.-La Porte, Ind.).

Nelson came on in relief of Johnson in the third inning and earned the win with 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits. Johnson allowed six runs (one earned) in 2 2/3 innings, and also went 3-for-4 at the plate.

The Muskies came up short in a pitchers' duel in the second game against Rochester that was decided late. The Yellowjackets scored first with a run in the third as Julianna Lyons singled through the right side with two outs to score Riley Laygo, but Lakeland pitcher Skylar Hall (Sr.-Negaunee, Mich.) eventually got out of a bases-loaded jam by inducing an infield pop-up.

The Muskies finally tied it in the top of the sixth by manufacturing a run. Sydney Meyer (So.-Crown Point, Ind.) led off with an infield single, and pinch runner Dodd moved to second after a sacrifice bunt by Jordan August (Jr.-Schererville, Ind.). Dodd then advanced to third on a groundout by Carlie Morrow (So.-Menasha, Wis.), and Nelson popped a two-out single down the left field line to tie the game at 1-1.

Rochester would score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning, though, again capitalizing with two outs. Ilana Weiss led off with a walk and came around to score when Laygo reached on an error, the only error of the game by either team. Lakeland would go down 1-2-3 in its final at-bat in the seventh as the Yellowjackets' Molly Broccolo finished with a complete game, allowing five hits with one strikeout.

Hall also threw a complete game, scattering eight hits with two runs (one earned) and two strikeouts. Nelson and Raske both had two hits each.

Lakeland is back on the field Friday with two more games, starting at 9 a.m. Central, 10 a.m. Eastern against St. Joseph's (Maine) College. The Muskies then face Knox (Ill.) College immediately following, with both games taking place at Sleepy Hollow Field in Leesburg, Fla.