The Lakeland baseball team played host to the Edison State Chargers today at Laker Field. The Lakers got two outstanding pitching performances, but came away with a split. Riley Wallace took the tough-luck loss in game 1 as he scattered 5 hits while allowing 2 runs (1 earned) and striking out 4 in a 2-1 loss. Neither team was able to get much go offensively until the Chargers took advantage of a Lakeland error to score the games first run in the top of the 5th inning. Lakeland responded and tied it up in the home half of the inning. The run scored when Ray Cowen worked a 2-out walk. Cowen advanced to second on a passed ball before scoring on a RBI-single from Jhonuel Dimas. The Chargers would push across another run in the top of the 6th inning, but the Lakers were unable to respond. Lakeland did have one last chance in the top of the 7th inning when Ray Cowen worked a 1-out walk, but unfortunately, he was left stranded. Lakeland managed just 2 hits in the defeat. Both Jhonuel Dimas and Alarik Sierra went 1-3 while Dimas added an RBI.
In game 2, the Lakers would not be denied in the 5-2 win. Stephen Osowski started on the mound and held the Chargers at bay in the 1st inning. Lakeland took a 1-0 lead in the home half of the inning when Alarik Sierra hit a leadoff single. After a Seth Cervello walk, Rafael Nakandakari singled to load the bases. Jhonuel Dimas then plated the games first run with an RBI-single. The Lakers would hold that lead until tacking on two more runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Jose Fichera got things started with a 1-out walk. Fichera advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a double from Nakandakari. Estevan Ruiz followed with a walk before Dimas knocked in Nakandakari with an RBI-single. During this time, Osowski continued to throw up zero's for the Lakers. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Lakers would add another run. Jose Fichera would hit a leadoff single before getting out on a fielder's choice from Nakandakari. Estevan Ruiz would walk before Jhonuel Dimas hit another RBI-single. Then came the top of the 6th inning. Osowski had still not given up a run and was also throwing a no-hitter. The Chargers had not been able to make solid contact all game. Edison State would finally push a run across as they took advantage of a walk, hit batter, and an error. The shutout was gone, but the no-hitter was still intact. In the bottom of the 6th inning, the Lakers would push across another insurance run to take a 5-1 lead. Ray Cowen would hit a leadoff single before Andhris Martinez walked. Seth Cervello would single to load the bases before Cowen scored on a fielder's choice from Jose Fichera. Osowski was now 3 outs away from a win and a no-hitter. The first batter grounded out to third base - 2 outs away for Osowski. Th next Charger batter then hit a soft ground ball to third base and was just able to beat out the throw for an infield hit - the no-hitter is gone. The next batter would walk before an RBI-single from the Chargers cut the Laker lead to 5-2. After a mound visit, Osowski regrouped to strike out the next batter before inducing a weak groundout to second base to earn the win on a 2-hitter.
Stephen Osowski pitched a complete game 2-hitter allowing 2 runs (1 earned) while striking out 6 batters. Jhonuel Dimas led the way offensively going 3-3 with 3 RBI's. Rafael Nakandakari collected 2 hits including a RBI-double. Jose Fichera picked up a hit and an RBI while Seth Cervello, Ray Cowen, Estevan Ruiz, and Alarik Sierra all added hits in the Lakers win.
Next Up: The Lakers will host the Hocking Hawks tomorrow at Laker Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
