FAIRBORN, Ohio – Lakeland baseball used a fast start in the opening game against Clark State Community College and cruised to a 14-4 victory Tuesday afternoon but the Lakers dropped the second game 12-11 to split the doubleheader.
With the split, Lakeland's overall record moves to 9-23 overall and 3-13 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play.
Lakeland 14 – Clark State 4
Lakeland scored seven runs in the opening inning and used that early lead to cruise to a 14-4 victory over Clark State to open the doubleheader.
Alec Guy blasted a home run and added two singled while bringing in five runs in the win. Jacob Nagy brought in three runs with a pair of singles. Matt DiDonato hit a single and a double and brought in a pair. Luis Padron, Austin Mora and Kyle Espineli each had an RBI in the victory for Lakeland.
Hudson Widrig pitched a strong seven innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out nine in the victory.
Lakeland got off to a great start in the first inning as Mora and Espineli each singled and later scored in the inning. DiDonato and Nagy each doubled and scored in the inning while Garrett Oliver and Alex Newsome each walked and scored while Guy delivered the big home run to cap the scoring and give the Lakers a 7-0 lead. Clark State scored one in the bottom of the first to get within 7-1.
Lakeland extended its lead in the second inning as Mora doubled to begin the inning and later scored while Jack Shepherd drew a walk and also scored to give the Lakers a 9-1 lead. Clark State scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to get within 9-3.
Mora scored a run for Lakeland in the sixth for a 10-3 lead and then Clark State countered with one run in the bottom of the inning to get within 10-4.
Lakeland added some insurance runs in the top of the seventh as Nagy started the inning with a double and then later scored. Alex Newsome, Guy and Padron each singled and each scored to build a 14-4 lead that would hold up as the final score.
Clark State 12 – Lakeland 11
Lakeland had a golden opportunity at a sweep as the Lakers led 11-9 lead heading into the final half inning but Clark State scored two in the seventh to tie the game and score one in the eighth to steal away a 12-11 victory.
Garrett Oliver hit a home run and brought in three runs. Espineli also had three RBIs with a double. Guy, Mora, DiDonato, Nagy and Seth France each had an RBI in the loss.
Clark State opened with a 2-0 lead after the first inning but Lakeland fought back in the second inning. Matt Detering opened the inning with a double and then scored the first Laker run to get within 2-1. Clark State scored one in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
Lakeland scored six runs in the fourth inning to take the lead. Shepherd and Nagy each hit a single and scored, Espineli and DiDonato each doubled and scored while Detering and Oliver walked and scored as Lakeland took a 7-3 lead in the fourth.
The Lakers expanded their lead in the fifth as DiDonato reached base on a fielder's choice and score while Nagy singled and scored and Oliver delivered a home run for a 10-3 lead. Clark State scored six runs in the fifth to get within 10-9 after five innings.
Lakeland scored an insurance run in the seventh as Nagy drew a walk and was brought in by a double by France to take an 11-9 lead. The lead didn't hold up as Clark State scored two in the seventh to force extra innings and then scored the winning run in the eighth to steal away a 12-11 victory.
Lakeland will begin its final conference series on the road against Friday, May 4 at Edison State Community College with the doubleheader 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.