The Lakeland baseball team traveled to Wright State today to start conference play against the Clark State Eagles. The Lakers came up on the short end of two tightly contested games. In game 1, Lakeland had a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 6th inning before the Eagles pushed the tying run across. The game would go 9 innings before Clark State took advantage of a lead off-walk and scored the winning run on a single for a 3-2 victory. After falling behind 1-0, Lakeland knotted the score in the top of the 4th inning. Alarik Sierra got the inning started with a walk and later stole second base. Sierra would later score on a double from Rafael Nakandakari. Lakeland would take the lead in the top of the 5th inning when Brayden Fellouzis hit a 1-out single. Fellouzis would advance to second on a passed ball. Following an Andhris Martinez walk, Estevan Ruiz would drive Fellouzis home with an RBI-single. Unfortunately for the Lakers, that's all the offense they would muster in game 1 as they finished with 4 hits. Fellouzis would pick up 2 hits while Nakandakari (2B) and Ruiz would each add a hit and RBI. Jackson Smith started and pitched 6 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 6 batters. Stephen Osowski took the tough loss pitching 2 innings and allowing 1 earned run.

In game 2, Lakeland jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning as Alarik Sierra reached on an error by the pitcher. Sierra would later score on a sac fly from Seth Cervello. The Lakers would tack on another run in the top of the 3rd inning for a 2-0 lead. Cervello would hit a 1-out double to get the Lakers started. Following a Nakandakari single, Ray Cowen would hit a RBI-single to extend the Lakers lead. In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Eagles would take advantage of a Lakers error to score an unearned run and halve the lead. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Lakers would committ 2 more errors allowing the Eagles to take a 4-2 lead. The Lakers would continue the battle until the end though and made one final push in the top of the 7th inning. Jose Fichera hit a 1-out single before Brayden Fellouzis hit a 2-out single. Julien Bourgeouis would then get hit by a pitch 2 load the bases for Lakeland. Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to get one more hit and instead suffered the 4-2 defeat. Andhris Martinez collected 2 hits in the nightcap while Seth Cervello had a hit (2B) and an RBI. Ray Cowen also had a hit and an RBI while Alarik Sierra (2B), Brayden Fellouzis, Jose Fichera, and Rafael Nakandakari each picked up a hit in the defeat. Logan Metz pitched a complete game allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits while striking out 5 batters.

Next Up: The two teams will square off again tomorrow in a doubleheader at Laker Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.