WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Lakeland University softball team opened its new season and spring break trip with a pair of losses to strong competition at The Spring Games Monday afternoon.
The Muskies were defeated by Calvin (Mich.) University 6-2 in their season opener and then dropped a 6-0 decision to Transylvania (Ky.) University. Lakeland fell to a pair of teams that qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament last year, as well as a Calvin team ranked 18th in the nation in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
The Muskies had a quiet day at the plate, combining for nine hits over the two games. Lakeland's opponents also both came through with big hits in fairly limited opportunities, especially early in games to put the Muskies in a hole.
Calvin (4-1 overall) scored five runs in the first three innings, including two in the bottom of the first and three more in the third. Carly Dole hit a one-out double to drive in the Knights' first run in the opening frame, and Tory Decker added a two-run triple in the third inning.
Lakeland its lone two runs in the fourth, with
Sydney Meyer (
Jr.-Crown Point, Ind.) leading off with a single and moving to second on an error.
Maddie Raske (
So.-Tinley Park, Ill.) walked and
Jordan August (
Sr.-Schererville, Ind.) doubled to send in Meyer.
Abby Heitman (
Jr.-St. Francis, Wis.) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Raske to make it 5-2.
Calvin added one more run in the fifth, and the Muskies were unable to score again despite loading the bases in the seventh.
Lexi Howard (
Fr.-Crown Point, Ind.) and
Peyton Harlow (
Jr.-LaPorte, Ind.) singled and
Carlie Morrow (
Jr.-Menasha, Wis.) was hit by a pitch, but Calvin relief pitcher Zoe Hazelhoff induced a groundout to second to end the game.
Emma Ludema earned the win for the Knights, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing five hits with seven strikeouts.
Natalie Ziebell (
Fr.-New Holstein, Wis.) took the loss for Lakeland, allowing five runs in 2 1/3 before
Melanie Watters (
Sr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) came on in relief and went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out two.
The Muskies were held to four hits in the second game, as Transylvania pitcher Raegan Gibson threw a complete game shutout, striking out one and walking five. Lakeland also was done in by five errors, which resulted in five of the Pioneers' six runs being unearned.
Transylvania (6-2 overall) took the lead in the second inning after one of those errors, as Ella Stuczynski hit a two-out, three-run homer to open the scoring. The Pioneers added another run in the fourth and tacked on two more unearned runs in the top of the seventh.
The Muskies had opportunities, stranding at least one runner in six of seven innings, including the bases loaded in the fourth. August was hit by a pitch and Heitman and Howard followed with singles, but the inning ended with a flyout. Transylvania also turned a pair of double plays to clip potential rallies.
Watters started the second game and took the loss, allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Lily Pettit (
Fr.-Rewey, Wis.) came on in relief and threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and three runs (one earned) with a strikeout and a walk.
Lakeland is in action again Tuesday with a pair of games, opening against Marywood (Pa.) University at 9 a.m. Central, 10 a.m. local time in Florida and then facing Ohio Northern University immediately following.
