The Lakeland softball team played host to the Owens Express today in OCCAC action. The Lakers played two solid games as they swept the Express by the scores of 8-6 and 12-5. Lakeland wasted no time in game one as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Carmen Alvarez greeted Owens with a leadoff homerun. Sydney Plotts reached on an error before being erased on a fielders choice from Emalee Harala. Abby Schneider followed with a walk before Natalie Phillips went deep with a 3-run homer. The Express made the score 4-2 as they answered with single runs in both the 2nd and 3rd inning. Lakeland made it 5-2 as they scored run in the bottom of the 4th inning. Gabby Moore go it started with a 2-out single. Moore then scored on a deep Carmen Alvarez double to left center. The Express then strung some hits together in the top of the 5th inning as they tied it at 5 by scoring 3 runs. The Lakers answered in the home half of the 5th inning as they scored 3 more runs to take an 8-5 lead. Abby Schneider started the rally with a 1-out single. Natalie Phillips followed with a single before Emerson Hren knocked them both in with an RBI-double. Leah Richter then ripped an RBI-single to close out the Lakers scoring. From there, Abby Schneider closed the door on the mound as the Lakers took game one.
Carmen Alvarez led the way for the Lakers with 3 hits (triple short of the cycle) and 2 RBI's. Natalie Phillips also had a big game with 2 hits and 3 RBI's while Leah Richter recorded 2 hits and an RBI. Emerson Hren had a hit and 2 RBI's while Abby Schneider had a hit and scored 2 runs. Gabby Moore added a hit and scored a run in the Lakers victory. Abby Schneider picked up the complete game victory as she hurled 7 innings and allowed 6 earned runs on 12 hits.
In game 2, Owens took an early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning before the Lakers answered with 4 runs in the 2nd inning. Emerson Hren started things with a 2-out single. Leah Richter then singled before Anna Farone walked to load the bases. Carmen Alvarez followed with a 2-RBI single. Sydney Plotts would then hit a ball that the Express could not handle allowing 2 more runs to score. After shutting Owens down in the top of the 3rd inning, the Lakers exploded for 4 more runs in the home half to take an 8-2 lead. Abby Schneider hit a lead off single to start the rally. Natalie Phillips then reached on an error before Lauryn Hawkins singled to load the bases. Emerson Hren followed with a 2-RBI double. Leah Richter then knocked in 2 more runs with a single. Lakeland tacked on another run in in the 4th inning on Natalie Phillips' 2nd homerun of the day. The Express would take advantage of a Laker miscue in the 5th to score 3 runs to make the score 9-5. The Lakers closed out the scoring in the 6th inning as they added 3 more runs. Emalee Harala hit a leadoff single before Phillips was walked. Natalie Phillips then singled to load the bases. Emerson Hren then scored Harala on a fielder's choice before Leah Richter followed with a 2-RBI single to close out the scoring.
Leah Richter collected 3 hits and 3 RBI's to lead the way offensively for the Lakers. Lauryn Hawkins also recorded 3 hits and scored 2 runs while Emerson Hren picked up 2 hits and 2 RBI's for the Lakers. Natalie Phillips hit a home run and scored 3 times while Carmen Alvarez finished with a hit and 2 RBI's. Emalee Harala and Abby Schneider both had a hit and a run scored while Sydney Plotts picked up an RBI in the victory. Leah Richter also picked up the win on the mound pitching 7 innings and allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 5 hits.
Next Up: On Saturday (4/11), the Lakers are scheduled to play host to the Hocking Hawks. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
