DAYTON, Ohio – Lakeland softball opened up conference play on the road and kept the games close but was swept by Sinclair Community College 9-4 and 13-6 Friday afternoon.

With the pair of losses, Lakeland falls to 6-11 overall and 0-2 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play. Sinclair improved to 2-0 in the OCCAC.

Sinclair 9 – Lakeland 4

Lakeland scored first in the opening game but was unable to keep Sinclair at bay in a 9-4 loss to open the doubleheader.

Abbie Tuttle, Cameron Malkamaki, Nicole Ulogar and Elena Logan each had an RBI in the loss.

The Lakers did get off to a good start in the first inning as Elizabeth Montgomery started the game off with a walk and then scored on an RBI single by Tuttle for a 1-0 lead. Ulogar made it 2-0 with an RBI ground out in the first. Sinclair came right back with one in the bottom of the first and three in the second for a 4-2 lead.

Lakeland did chip away at the lead in the fourth as Ulogar reached base with a one-out single and then Logan brought her in with an infield single to get within 4-3. Sinclair countered with two in the bottom of the fourth to build up a 6-3 lead.

Lakeland loaded the bases in the top of the fifth and Malkamaki brought in a run with a bases-loaded walk to get within 6-4 but that would be all the damage in the inning and the game for Lakeland. Sinclair created more breathing room with three runs in the sixth to make the final score 9-4.

Sinclair 13 – Lakeland 6

Sinclair broke up a 1-1 tie game in the second with six runs and Lakeland made the game closer but Sinclair pulled away for the 13-4 victory to seal the sweep.

Tuttle and Logan each had two RBIs in the second game while Gabriella Monastero and Ely Miller each had an RBI. Montgomery, Settles and Malkamaki hit a double in the loss.

Sinclair scored first in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead but Lakeland battled back in the second. Miller was able to bring in a run with a single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1. Sinclair came back with six runs in the bottom of the second for a 7-1 lead.

Lakeland did show fight in the third as Tuttle brought in a pair with a double to center to get within 7-3. Logan later her own two-run double to get within 7-5 and then Monastero added an RBI single to get within 7-6 in the middle of the third. Unfortunately, that would be the final runs scored for Lakeland as Sinclair added six more to earn a 13-6 victory.

Lakeland will stay on the road to face Edison State Community College on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. for another doubleheader.

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.