DOBSON, N.C. – Lakeland softball was able to score first in both games against Surry Community College but those early leads did not hold up as Surry won both games for the sweep by the scores of 14-3 and 11-6.
Following the sweep, Lakeland's overall record dips to 2-2.
Surry 14 – Lakeland 3
Lakeland struck first but was unable to hold off Surry after the first inning as the Lakers dropped the opening game of the doubleheader 14-3 in five innings.
Justine Barnes had a big game at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a home run and a single while driving in three runs. Kallista Hribar provided a singled and a double while scoring twice. Cameron Malkamaki knocked a pair of singles in the loss.
Lakeland was the first on the scoreboard when Hribar led off with a double and then scored on a single by Barnes to right for a 1-0 lead. The lead would be short-lived as Surry scored three runs in the second and third innings and belted in eight runs in the fourth for a 14-1 lead after four innings.
Hribar and Barnes teamed up in the fifth to try and avoid the run rule as Hribar drew a walk and Barnes nailed a home run to left to get within 14-3. Unfortunately, that would be the final runs scored as Surry sealed the run-rule victory in the fifth.
Surry 11 – Lakeland 6
Fast starts were not the issue for Lakeland in the second game either as Surry added a bunch of runs in later innings to build a big lead and hold on for an 11-6 victory to earn the sweep.
Barnes continued with the hot bat in the second game with two singles and a double while bringing in a run. Hribar hit a pair of singles and brought in two runs while Dana Turchon had two singles in the loss.
Sydney Aey, who struggled in the first road trip for the Lakers, pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game while striking out one in the loss.
Hribar was able to reach base on an error to begin the second game and Barnes knocked her in with a single up the middle for a 1-0 lead. That lead disappeared with three Surry runs in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 lead.
Lakeland cut into the lead in the second inning when Turchon reached on an error and scored on an RBI single by Hribar to get Lakeland within 3-2. The Lakers took the lead away from Surry in the third when Elizabeth Montgomery scored on a double play to knot the game at 3-3.
After tying the game in the third, Lakeland kept the momentum going in the fourth as Turchon got it started with a one-out single and then scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to left by Abby Takacs for a 4-3 lead. Hribar made the score 5-3 with a line drive single to center for an RBI. Surry scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-5 lead.
Barnes helped get the Lakers closer when she led off with a single in the fifth and then scored on an error to get within 8-6. Unfortunately, Surry tacked on three more runs in the fifth to take an 11-6 lead that would hold up after Lakeland went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings.
Lakeland will look to salvage the road trip when it travels to face Patrick Henry Community College on Saturday, March 10 for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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.