MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Lakeland softball could not have been closer in both games of a doubleheader against Patrick Henry Community College but the Lakers were unable to keep late leads and lost but games by the score of 10-9 Saturday afternoon.
With the pair of losses, Lakeland falls to 2-4 overall after a 0-4 road trip this weekend.
Patrick Henry 10 – Lakeland 9
Lakeland held a 9-8 lead with three outs remaining but Patrick Henry was able to add two runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the 10-9 win to open the doubleheader.
Cameron Malkamaki turned in a 2-for-4 game with a double and a single while bringing in three runs. Justine Barnes belted two solo home runs while Kallista Hribar added a two-run shot. Dana Turchon added a pair of singles and brought in a run as well.
Lakeland was first on the scoreboard in the opening inning when Barnes belted a solo home run with two outs to left for a 1-0 lead. Patrick Henry came back with five runs in the bottom of the first to take a 5-1 lead after an inning.
The Lakers used the long ball to get back into the game as Abby Takacs led off with a walk and then Hribar followed two batters later with a home run to right to get within 5-3 in the third.
Lakeland took the lead away in the fifth inning and it started with a single from Jamie Matso and a walk from Hribar and Barnes. Malkamaki cleared the bases with a double to center for a 6-5 lead. Turchon followed with an RBI single to left for a 7-5 advantage. Patrick Henry tied the game up in the bottom half with a pair of runs to knot the game at 7-7 and then took an 8-7 lead with a single run in the sixth.
Down to just two outs in the seventh, Barnes nailed a solo home run to center to tie the game at 8-8. The Lakers kept going in the inning and loaded the bases and Takacs brought in a run with a bases loaded walk for a 9-8 lead. Unfortunately, the lead did not hold as Patrick Henry scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal away the win.
Patrick Henry 10 – Lakeland 9
Lakeland did not lose the second game in the final inning but it was giving up seven runs in the fifth that did the Lakers in as Patrick Henry secured a 10-9 victory.
Hribar hit 3-for-4 in the game with a triple, double and a single while bringing in two runs. Hribar was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Elizabeth Montgomery belted a home run and a double to bring in four runs. Barnes, Malkamaki and Cassidy Yarnell each had an RBI in the loss.
Takacs had a decent start as she went into the fourth inning and gave up one earned run in the no decision.
Lakeland again struck first in the opening inning when Hribar led off with a double and Malkamaki hit an RBI double to right for a 1-0 lead. Patrick Henry tied the game up in the second with a single run and then took a 3-1 lead in the third with two runs.
The Lakers cut into the lead in the fourth as Barnes started the inning with a walk and then was brought in with a single by Yarnell to center to get within 3-2.
Lakeland went after the lead in the fifth as Nicole Ulogar singled to begin the inning and then was brought in on a single by Hribar to tie the game at 3-3. Lakeland wasn't done as Montgomery brought in two with a double to left for a 5-3 lead. Barnes added a run with a double to left to make the score 6-3. Patrick Henry scored seven in the fifth to take a 10-6 lead.
The Lakers still showed some fight in the sixth as Ulogar singled with one out and was brought in with a triple to right to get within 10-7. Montgomery delivered a big blow with a home run to left to get within 10-9 but that would be as close as the Lakers would get as Patrick Henry held on for the win.
Lakeland will be on the road on Wednesday, March 10 with a short trip to face Notre Dame College for a doubleheader beginning at 4 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.