PLYMOUTH, Wis. – The Lakeland University softball team scored early and often in both games and made quick work of Mount Mary University in a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at home.
The Muskies took care of business against an overmatched opponent, winning by scores of 15-1 and 11-0, with both games ending in five innings due to the eight-run rule. Lakeland won its final non-conference games of the regular season and improved to 28-6 overall with six games remaining in the regular season.
The Muskies wasted no time in either game building a lead quickly, scoring five times in the first inning in both games. Lakeland also had big second innings and scored all of its runs in both games by the end of the third inning, with both games ending in just over an hour to beat deteriorating weather conditions.
Eleven different players recorded at least one hit on the day, including ten different players in the first game.
Abby Heitman (
So.-St. Francis, Ill.) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two runs batted in,
Juliana Hall (
Sr.-Portage, Ind.) and
Carlie Morrow (
So.-Menasha, Wis.) added two hits each and
Peyton Harlow (
So.-La Porte, Ind.) drove in three runs.
Freshman
Callie Linders (
Griffith, Ind.) also was one of three reserves to post hits in the first game and provided one of the game's biggest highlights with a two-run inside-the-park homer. The lefthanded hitter sliced a pitch down the left field line and all the way down into the corner, and Linders motored all the way around the bases to score standing up for her first collegiate home run.
Skylar Hall (
Sr.-Negaunee, Mich.) pitched a complete game and allowed two hits and one unearned run with three strikeouts. The Blue Angels (9-26 overall) scored their lone run in the third inning when Kaylee Baker reached on an error and later scored on a fielder's choice.
Lakeland also dominated the second game, which was played most of the way in a light rain.
Maddie Raske (
Fr.-Tinley Park, Ill.) went 2-for-2 with a season-best five RBIs,
Jordan August (
Jr.-Schererville, Ind.) added two hits and three RBIs and
Sydney Meyer (
So.-Crown Point, Ind.) added two hits and two runs scored.
Harlow also added three hits and drove in two runs and
Juliana Hall also added two hits for a four-hit day.
Madi Johnson (
Sr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) pitched a three-hit shutout, her second shutout of the season.
The Muskies next will host Marian University for a Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference doubleheader and also Senior Day on Sunday starting at noon.
