BALTIMORE, Md. – Two solid pitching performances, good run support in the first game and a game-winning hit in the final inning of the second game was enough for Lakeland softball to sweep CCBC – Catonsville by the scores of 6-4 and 3-2 Saturday afternoon.
The pair of victories ties the longest winning streak for Lakeland with three straight and improves its overall record to 8-6.
Lakeland 6 – Catonsville 4
Lakeland started fast with five runs in the first inning and had just enough to hold on for a 6-4 victory to open the doubleheader against Catonsville.
Cameron Malkamaki only had one hit but it was effective as she blasted a solo home run and score twice in the win. Justine Barnes, Jamie Matso, Dana Turchon and Sam Szoradi each had an RBI in the opening game.
Sydney Aey got the run support early on and used that to improve to 3-4 after pitching all seven innings and striking out seven in the victory.
The first inning made all the difference in the game for the Lakers as Hribar started it off with a single and then was brought in with an RBI double by Barnes for the first run of the game. Matso brought in the second run with an RBI single in the infield.
Malkamaki, who reached on an error, scored on a passed ball and then Turchon followed with an RBI single to right for a 4-0 lead. Szoradi capped the scoring in the inning by earning an RBI with a fielder's choice for a 5-0 lead. Catonsville did score one run in the second to get within 5-1.
Malkamaki helped Lakeland get that run back when she belted the first pitch she saw over the fence in left for a 6-1 lead. The game got a little closer that Lakeland would have liked as Catonsville scored three in the seventh but the Lakers held on for the two-run victory.
Lakeland 3 – Catonsville 2
Cassidy Yarnell stepped up when her team needed her as Lakeland was tied 2-2 heading into the seventh but Yarnell started the inning with a solo home run that turned out to be the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over Catonsville.
That home run was the only hit for Yarnell but it wasn't the only home run for the Lakers. After hitting her first home run of the season in the first game, Malkamaki came back for another home run in the second game to bring in one of the three Lakeland runs.
Nicole Watts didn't get as much run support as she would have liked but three runs was just enough for to pick up her fifth win of the season in the circle after pitching all seven innings and allowing one earned run while fanning four batters.
Lakeland did stay hot in the opening inning as Hribar doubled to begin the game and then stole home to supply the Lakers with their first run for a 1-0 lead. Catonsville countered with one run in the second to tie the game at 1-1.
Malkamaki showed some hustle in the fourth in legging out an inside-the-park home run to give Lakeland a 2-1 lead. That lead disappeared with a single run from Catonsville in the bottom of the inning to knot up the game at 2-2.
Yarnell decided to break the tie in the seventh with a solo home run over the fence in center to deliver the game-winner for the Lakers.
Lakeland will return back home to face Mercyhurst North East on Tuesday, April 3 for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 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.