In a rainout makeup today, the Lakers hosted the Hocking Hawks in OCCAC action. In game 1, the Lakers defense let them down as the Hawks took advantage of Lakeland errors in falling to Hocking 20-3. Hocking was aided by three errors in the first 2 innings which spotted the Hawks an early 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Lakeland got a run back. Natalie Phillips had a lead off walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Phillips would later score on a Hocking error. Over the next 2 innings, Lakeland issued 4 walks and committed another error as the Hawks took control of the game. Lakeland would add two runs in the 5th, but were unable to get back into the game. After an Anna Farone walk, Madison Ciammaichella would reach on a fielder's choice. Carmen Alvarez then hit a ball that the Hawks outfield could not handle allowing Ciammaichella to score. Alvarez later scored on a fielder's choice from Sydney Plotts.
The Lakers recorded just one hit - a Sydney Plotts 1st inning single. Plotts also had Lakeland's only RBI. Abby Schneider took the loss pitching 3 innings and allowing 9 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits. Madison Ciammaichella relieved and pitched 2 innings allowing 11 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits.
In game 2, Lakeland came out with a better effort, but in the end, the defense again played a significant factor in the 8-6 loss. The Hawks took advantage of a 1st inning error to score 2 unearned runs early. In the home half, Carmen Alvarez took the Hocking pitcher deep to make the score 2-1. That score would remain until the 4th inning when the Lakers scored 3 runs to take a 4-2 lead. Lauryn Hawkins got the rally started with a 1-out single. Karli Cunningham followed with a walk. Leah Richter then knocked them both in with a 2-RBI single. Richter later scored on an RBI-single from Emerson Hren. In the top of the 5th inning, the Lakers committed 2 more errors setting the Hawks up to score 3 more runs. Over the next two innings, the Hawks scored 3 more runs to take an 8-4 lead. The Lakers had one more opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning. Lakeland started the inning with 3 consecutive singles from from Carmen Alvarez, Sydney Plotts, and an RBI-single from Emalee Harala. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that's as close as they would get as they fell in game two.
In game 2, Sydney Plotts had 3 hits and score a run while Carmen Alvarez picked up 2 hits (HR). Lauryn Hawkins had 2 hits and scored a run while Leah Richter had a hit and 2 RBI's. Emalee Harala and Emerson Hren each had a hit and RBI in the loss. Leah Richter took the tough luck loss going the distance while allowing 8 runs (5 earned).
Next Up: The Lakers are scheduled to travel to Edison State on Tuesday (4/14) to face the Chargers in OCCAC action. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
