MELBOURNE, Fla. – Addison Dierschow (Fr.-Rewey, Ill.) and Lily Pettit (So.-Rewey, Wis.) combined on a four-hit shutout in the first game as the Lakeland University softball team closed out its play at the Space Coast Spring Games with a split of its final two games Saturday.

The Muskies defeated Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 2-0 in their first game, extending their winning streak to seven games. Lakeland saw its streak snapped in its final game of the trip in a 5-1 loss to Central (Iowa) College, leaving the Muskies with an 8-2 record on their trip and an 8-4 overall mark on the season.

Dierschow and Pettit combined to hold the Trailblazers (0-2 overall) to just four hits, with Dierschow earning her second win with four shutout innings and Pettit picking up the save allowing no hits and just one baserunner over the final three innings.

Dierschow stranded six MCLA runners over the first three innings, including leaving three in the third when she struck out Hannah Mitchem with the bases loaded. The Trailblazers advanced a runner to second with no outs in the fourth after Amelia Leasure led off with a single and stole second, but the Muskies freshman got a strikeout and two infield popups to easily get out of the inning.

The Muskies scored their lone runs with single tallies in the third and sixth innings. Callie Linders (Jr.-Griffith, Ind.) singled to lead off the third inning, moved to third after Sydney Meyer (Sr.-Crown Point, Ind.) reached on an error, and scored on a single by Abby Heitman (Sr.-St. Francis, Wis.).

Lakeland added an insurance run in the sixth. Carlie Morrow (Sr.-Menasha, Wis.) and McKenzie Staudinger (Jr.-Manitowoc, Wis.) both reached on one-out walks, Kendyll Holub (Jr.-Sturtevant, Wis.) moved up both with a groundout and Morrow scored when Lexi Howard (So.-Crown Point, Ind.) reached on an error to keep the inning alive.

Linders and Holub posted two hits each to lead the Muskies. MCLA pitcher Hannah Gilbert allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) with five strikeouts and two walks in the loss.

Lakeland finished its trip on a down note, as it was unable to take advantage of numerous opportunities against Central (5-1 overall). The Muskies finished with nine hits but stranded 12 runners, including at least two runners in five different innings.

The Dutch were far more efficient in capitalizing on their opportunities, scoring in four different innings including single runs in three innings. Central scored first with a run in the second on a two-out single by Jadyn Huisman, and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI double by Sarah Stufflebeam.

Lakeland scored its lone run in the third and cut its deficit to 2-1 as Linders singled with one out, Meyer walked and Staudinger hit a two-out single to right to score Linders. The Muskies would not score again, though, stranding at least one runner in each of their final four at bats, including the bases loaded in the fifth and two runners in both the fourth and seventh innings.

Heiman went 3-for-4 against Central and Linders and Staudinger added two hits each. Natalie Ziebell (So.-New Holstein, Wis.) took the loss, allowing four hits and two runs over 2 1/3 innings. Jacie Jones (Sr.-Prairie du Sac, Wis.) came on in relief and allowed three hits and a run with four strikeouts over 2 2/3 before Pettit finished covering the final two innings, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned).

The Muskies now get ready to open Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play, with their league opener scheduled for next Saturday, March 21 at Concordia University Chicago. The doubleheader in River Forest, Ill., is scheduled to start at noon.