KIRTLAND, Ohio – Lakeland baseball showed a lot of fight in the second game in scoring 11 runs but fell short in both games to Cuyahoga Community College in a doubleheader sweep by the scores of 10-0 and 17-11 Sunday afternoon.
With the losses, Lakeland's overall record falls to 8-22 and 2-12 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play.
Cuyahoga 10 – Lakeland 0
Lakeland had a hard time getting any offense going in the opening game and could only muster two hits in a 10-0 loss to Cuyahoga to open the day.
Alec Guy and Garrett Oliver each had a hit for the Lakers. Ted Davis did come on in relief and pitched two scoreless innings in the 10-0 loss.
Cuyahoga 17 – Lakeland 11
Lakeland hit the ball much better in the second game, which included a seven-run fifth inning but Cuyahoga was able to hold on to its lead and pick up the 17-11 victory to secure the sweep.
Matt Detering put together a big game for Lakeland, picking up six RBIs with a grand slam and a triple to lead the Lakers. Kyle Espineli brought in three runs with three doubles while Guy brought in a pair with two singles.
Cuyahoga did jump all over Lakeland in the second inning with eight runs to take a big lead. Espineli put Lakeland on the board with an RBI double to right to get the Lakers within 8-1. Cuyahoga put up four in the third and one more in the fourth to a 13-1 lead.
Gino Bertolone helped to start a rally for Lakeland in the bottom of the fourth with a single and then scored on a double from Espineli to get within 13-2. Detering brought in two with a triple to center field to get within 13-4. Cuyahoga added three runs in the fifth to take a 16-4 lead.
Lakeland loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth with walks from Bertolone and Jacob Nagy and a single from Seth France. Espineli pushed in a run with a bases loaded walk for the fifth run. Guy brought in a pair with a single to center to get within 16-7.
Detering delivered the big blow in the inning with a grand slam over the fence in right to pull Lakeland within 16-11. Unfortunately, that would be the final run scored for the Lakers as Cuyahoga score one more to make the final 17-11.
Lakeland will continue conference play on the road on Tuesday, May 1 with a doubleheader at Clark State Community College beginning at 1 p.m.
For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.
About Lakeland Community College
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.
Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.
