On Friday, the Lakers traveled to Springfield, Ohio to play the Clark State Eagles and came away with two decisive wins. Anthony Miller picked up the win in the first game as he threw five innings in a 14-3 run rule. In the game, he allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out 10. The Lakers banged out 18 hits as Garrett Sierra (four hits), Glavine Harpe and Walker Marlowe (three hits each), and Levi Jones and Adam Samuels (two hits each) all had multihit games. Sierra also had a solo homer while Alex Newsome added a two run shot.
The Lakers won the second game 12-6 as they continued to hit the ball. Lakeland collected 18 more hits in this game and were led by Cody Pittenger (four hits, two RBI) and Walker Marlowe (three hits, two RBI). Sierra, Jones, Samuels, and Spencer Schultz each added two hits. The game was knotted at four after three innings of play. In the top of the fourth, the Lakers plated three more runs to take a commanding lead. Marlowe and Pittenger got it started with consecutive singles. Sierra hit a sac fly and later in the inning Jones added an RBI single. The Eagles would scratch back into the game with two runs in the sixth before the Lakers ended it by scoring three in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth. In the seventh inning, Samuels led off with a single. He moved up on an Alex Medina single before walker plated him with an RBI single. Another run was scored on a Samuels fielder's choice. In the eighth, a Brandon Harlan single was followed by a Medina Walk. Marlow then doubled home Harlan. The final run came in on a Pittenger RBI single.
Kyle Tucker started on the mound for the Lakers and went 2.2 innings giving up four runs. Hudson Widrig came in and picked up the win firing the final 6.1 innings allowing two earned runs on two hits while striking out five.
Saturday's games were similar in that there was an 11-0 run rule game followed by a closer 12-9 game. The results were the same though as the Lakers beat the Eagles twice. The 16-hit attack was led by sophomore Glavine Harpe who had a double, two home runs and four RBIs. Adam Samuels also had three hits in the game while Alex Medina, Brandon Harlan, Spencer Schultz, and Levi jones each chipped in with two hits. Rob Kalinowski pitched the complete game shutout as he fired five innings allowing just two hits while striking out five.
In the nightcap, the Lakers jumped out to a 6-0 lead before hanging on for the 12-9 win. The Lakers scored four in the first as Cody Pittenger and Garrett Sierra started the game with consecutive singles. Following an RBI fielders' choice from Spencer Schultz, Levi Jones unloaded a two run home run. Later in the inning, Adam Samuels hit a solo home run. The Lakers increased their lead in the fifth when Schultz unloaded a two run homer following a Sierra double. Clark State put up three in the bottom of the fifth to make is 6-3 before the Lakers added a four spot in the top of the sixth inning. Hits by Walker Marlowe, Pittenger and Jones keyed the inning. The eagles would not give up though as they scored two more in the bottom of the sixth. Lakeland countered with two more runs in the top of the seventh as Dillon Rohm and Jones keyed the attack with consecutive RBI singles. In the bottom of the seventh, Clark State played four more runs to close the gap as the Lakers gave up a couple of hits while walking some batters. Garrett Sierra finally ended the game getting by getting a strikeout and then a ground out to keep the Lakers in the win column. Kyle Zarbosky picked up the win pitching five innings and allowing three runs while fanning two batters.
The Lakers are scheduled to travel to West Virginia Tuesday as they will play Potomac State in a twinbill. The Lakers home opening weekend is scheduled Friday and Saturday (4/14-4/15) against Sinclair Community College. Game time Friday is at 2 p.m. and at noon Saturday. If inclement weather is foreseen Saturday, it is possible that the game time may be adjusted.