LIMA, Ohio – Justine Barnes delivered a late RBI for Lakeland softball in the second game to help the Lakers salvage a split with a 4-3 victory after suffering an 8-0 loss in the opening game of a doubleheader against University of Northwestern Ohio JV Friday afternoon.
With the split, Lakeland's overall record moves to 12-12 and its Ohio Community College Athletic Conference record stays at 1-5.
Northwestern Ohio 8 – Lakeland 0
Lakeland couldn't get anything going on offense and only came up with two hits in an 8-0 loss to open the doubleheader.
Elizabeth Montgomery hit a double and Jamie Matso hit a single for the only two hits for the Lakers in the loss.
Lakeland 4 – Northwestern Ohio 3
Lakeland did much better on offense in the second game with 10 hits and it came down to an RBI ground out by Justine Barnes to give the Lakers a 4-3 victory to split the doubleheader.
Barnes hit a triple earlier in the game but her biggest at-bat came in the seventh when she grounded out for an RBI to make the score 4-3. Matso and Abby Takacs had the other two RBIs in the win.
Nicole Watts pitched all seven innings and only gave up one earned run while striking out four to pick up the win.
Lakeland had to dig out of a 3-0 hole after four innings as Northwestern Ohio scored one in the opening inning and then two more in the fourth.
That lead disappeared in the fifth and it started with a lead-off double by Watts that was followed by an RBI triple by Takacs to get within 3-1. Matso singled in the second run and then Barnes tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI triple to center.
Barnes delivered again in the seventh as Montgomery tripled to begin the inning and Barnes followed two batters later with an important RBI ground out that proved to be the difference in a 4-3 victory.
Lakeland will next travel to face Mercyhurst North East on Sunday, April 15 for a 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.