PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Chris Finn (Jr.-Mapleton, Ill.) hit a grand slam early in the game and later was hit by a pitch to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Lakeland University baseball team pulled out a hard-fought 10-9 win over Concordia University Chicago in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

The Muskies saw a three-run lead evaporate in the top of the ninth but came back to score three times to win for the first time in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play this year. Lakeland also finished with a split with the Cougars in their home opener after Concordia won the opening game 17-3 in seven innings.

The Muskies also finished on a high note with a win in their second game on Senior Day in a contest when seven seniors were honored after the conclusion of the doubleheader. Lakeland's win came in a roller coaster of a game that included Concordia Chicago scoring three runs in the top of the first inning before the Muskies came back to score six times in the second and lead the rest of the way until the eventful ninth inning.

Finn capped a huge game with a walk-off hit by pitch to finish with five RBIs on the day. The junior also hit a grand slam in the second inning, on a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for the Muskies' first hit of the game and their only hit of a six-run inning that turned momentum after the Cougars (8-11 overall, 3-3 NACC) had started the second game by picking up their hot hitting from the first game by striking first with three runs.

Lakeland appeared in good shape for the win entering the ninth after a strong start by Mikey Hernandez (Jr.-Lennox, Calif.). The righthander pitched eight-plus innings and after a three-run homer by CUC's Xavier Zagerman in the first inning allowed just one run over the next seven frames, getting the Muskies to the doorstep of victory with a 7-4 lead entering the ninth inning.

An error and a hit batter put a pair of runners on and Hernandez came out in the ninth, and the Cougars would go on to score five times in the inning on just two hits. Two errors and two walks aided Concordia's cause, including the tying and go-ahead runs scoring on a bases-loaded error with no outs, but Eli Watkins (Jr.-Herrin, Ill.) retired the final three batters of the inning to limit the damage with CUC holding a 9-7 lead entering the bottom of the ninth.

Lakeland got to work in the bottom of the ninth when Logan South (So.-Oswego, Ill.) was hit by a pitch with one out and Rily Roberts (So.-Chattanooga, Tenn.) got aboard with a single to put runners at first and second. Pinch hitter Dylan Costello (Sr.-New Berlin, Wis.) then hit a grounder to second, but the throw to the bag for the force out went past the shortstop, and South came in to score while Roberts moved to third.

Chris Day (Sr.-Victorville, Calif.) then laid down a squeeze bunt, and Roberts got in at home just before the tag to tie the game at 9-9. Pinch runner Caleb Sumsion (Sr.-Dayton, Nev.) moved to second on the play, and he was rounding third and on his way home after a single by J.T. Cortinas (Jr.-Chino Hills, Calif.), but tripped coming around third base, getting back just in time to leave the bases loaded with one out. Sean Gregorius (So.-Germantown, Wis.) then fouled out for the second out of the inning, but Finn came up with the bases still loaded and was plunked to send in Sumsion with the winning run and improve Lakeland's record to 2-6 in one-run games this season.

Watkins earned the win in relief, his first victory of the season, while Hernandez pitched eight innings and allowed nine hits and six runs (five earned) with two strikeouts. Finn went 2-for-3 at the plate and Roberts also was 3-for-5 with a run scored. After the game the team's seven seniors were recognized, including Costello, Day, Sumsion, Thor Dunham (Palisade, Minn.), Ian Scherbring (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Sutton Shurley (Fort Worth, Texas) and Jacob Wollschlager (Kenosha, Wis.).

The Cougars dominated the first game, scoring in six of seven innings, and blew a close contest open late with big innings in the fifth and sixth.

Concordia led 3-0 after two innings when Lakeland crawled back into the game for a time, as Sam Goodrum (Fr.-Fort Collins, Colo.) hit a double to score Bryce Backus (So.-Kenosha, Wis.) and Zach McMahon (Fr.-Crystal Lake, Ill.) later followed with a two-out RBI single to score Goodrum to make it 3-2. CUC followed with two runs in the top of the third, though, and broke the game wide open with seven runs in the fifth plus four more in the sixth.

Concordia Chicago scored its 17 runs on just 12 hits, as the Muskies committed five errors and the pitching staff issues eight walks and hit five batters. Chris Sippl (Fr.-Wittenberg, Wis.) took the loss in the start, allowing five hits and five runs (three earned) in 2 2/3 innings.

Lakeland is back on the field tomorrow when it hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering for two games starting at noon.