The Lakeland baseball team played host to the Owens Express today in OCCAC action. Lakeland's schedule is really picking up as they are scheduled to play 6 games over the next 3 days. The Lakers dropped both ends of the doubleheder by the scores of 9-7 and 5-4. In game 1, Ethan Duncan started and threw 5 strong innings before being lifted in the 6th after one batter. Duncan allowed 2 runs in the first inning before settling down and shutting the Express out over the next 4 innings. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second the Lakers got on the board with a run of their own. Nicholas Square got the rally started with a towering fly ball to deep left field that landed for a double. Square would later score on a 2-out RBI-single from Josiah Cuesta. Lakeland would tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out, Wilfredo Ortiz, Square, and Parker LaGreca each walked to load the bases. Cuesta  followed with another RBI-single. Unfortunately for Lakeland, they would leave the bases loaded. Lakeland manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the 5th inning to take a 3-2 lead. James LaVigne was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Ray Cowen bunted LaVigne to second base before LaVigne advanced to 3rd base on a ground out from Cody Crawford. LaVigne would later score on a passed ball. 

Then the game exploded. The Express would take advantage of a walk and hit batter before stringing together some hits to score 6 runs in the top of the 6th inning. Trailing 8-3, the Lakers were running out of time. Lakeland immediately answered in the home half of the 6th inning. Nicholas Square and Parker LaGreca would be issued leadoff walks. With 2 outs, Brayden Fellouzis ripped a single thru the left side of the infield to load the bases. James LaVigne then stepped to the plate and smashed a bases clearing double to right-center. Ray Cowen and Kaleb Corrin then walked to load the bases again for the Lakers. The Express then uncorked a wild pitch allowing LaVigne to score and bring the Lakers within 1 run at 8-7. Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to push any more runs across as they dropped game 1.

Ethan Duncan took a no-decision while Jack Argie relieved and suffered the tough-luck loss. Leo Alonso relieved and closed out the game. Josiah Cuesta (2 hits and 2 RBI's) and James LaVigne (double and 3 RBI's) led the Lakers offensively. Nicholas Square (double) and Brayden Fellouzis also added hits for the Lakers.

Game 2 was a heartbreaker for the Lakers. Trailing 3-0, Lakeland tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Parker LaGreca got the inning starter by reaching on an error. The red-hot Josiah Cuesta followed with a single before Brayden Fellouzis ripped an RBI-double. Tony Hall was then hit by a pitch before Ray Cowen stroked an RBI-single. With the bases loaded, Wilfredo Ortiz worked a walk to force in the tying run for the Lakers. Lakeland took the lead in the bottom of the 4th inning. Fellouzis and Hall hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. James LaVigne then reached on an error to load the bases. Ray Cowen drove in the go ahead run with a sac fly. The Lakers led 4-3 before the Express took advantage of 2 Lakeland errors to score the winning runs. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the Lakers made one last effort and had runners on 1st and 2nd, but were unable to come through with one more clutch hit.

Ray Cowen (2 hits and 2 RBI's) and Brayden Fellouzis (2 hits and an RBI) led the way offensively in game 2. Josiah Cuesta and Tony Hall each added hits in the loss. Adam Salesky took a no-decision pitching 4 innings and allowing 3 runs while striking out 7 batters. Anthony Barbosa relieved and pitched a scoreless inning. Casen Smith took the tough loss allowing 2 runs (0 earned) on 1 hit while striking out 2 batters. 

Next Up: The Lakers play host to the Lorain County Commodores tomorrow (4/23) in OCCAC action. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm.