The Lakers baseball team played host to the Hocking Hawks in OCCAC play at Laker Field. Game 1 was an intense ballgame that went back and forth all game. The Hawks started things by scoring a run in the top of the 2nd inning. The Lakers immediately answered in the home half of the inning by plating two runs for a 2-1 lead. In the home half, Brayden Fellouzis started things with a 2-out single. Ray Cowen was then walked and Andhris Martinez brought Fellouzis home with an RBI-single. Alarik Sierra followed with an RBI-single and the Lakers had taken the lead. The score would remain 2-1 until Lakeland tacked on another run in the bottom of the 4th inning. Brayden Fellouzis again led off with a single and was followed by another Ray Cowen walk. This time, Andhris Martinez hit an RBI-double to increase the Laker lead to 3-1. The Hawks would answer in the top of the 5th inning as they tied the score on a 2-run home run. In the top of the 6th inning, Hocking would take advantage of 2 Lakeland errors to push across the go-ahead run. The score would remain 4-3 in favor of the visitors until the bottom of the 7th inning. With 1 out, Seth Cervello stepped to the plate as time was running out for the Lakers. Cervello then ripped a 3-2 curveball over the left field fence for a game tying home run. The Lakers were not done. With 2 outs, Rafael Nakandakari hit a ball down the 3rd base line. Nakandakari put pressure on the third baseman with his hustle to first base. The hustle rushed the player to make a wide throw and so Nakandakari reached on the error. Estevan Ruiz then came to the plate to try and win the game. Nakandakari wasted little time in stealing 2nd base. Ruiz followed with a line-drive walk-off single to right-center field as the Lakers prevailed 5-4.
Logan Metz pitched a strong game throwing 6 innings and scattering 8 hits while allowing 4 runs (3 earned) and striking out 4 batters. Zach Sullivan relieved and threw 1 inning while worked around 2 Laker errors in picking up the win. Andhris Martinez went 2-3 with 2 RBI's while Brayden Fellouzis went 2-3 and scored 2 runs. Ray Cowen had a hit and 2 walks while Alarik Sierra recorded a hit and RBI. Jose Fichera also chipped in a hit. Seth Cervello finished with the game tying home run while Estevan Ruiz collected 2 hits and the game winning RBI.
In game 2, the game had a much different feel. Lakeland exploded in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take a 5-0 lead over the Hawks. Rafael Nakandakari and Estevan Ruiz led off with consecutive singles. Brayden Fellouzis knocked in Nakandakari with an RBI-single that allowed Ruiz to advance to 3rd base. Ruiz then scored on a fielder's choice from Ray Cowen. Andhris Martinez picked up an RBI as he reached on an error. Alarik Sierra followed with an RBI-single. Seth Cervello then walked before Jose Fichera hit an RBI-single. The Hawks tried to fight back in the top of the 3rd inning. They combined a walk with a couple of flares to cut the Laker lead to 5-3. In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Lakers tacked on 2 more runs and then sailed to the 7-3 victory. The runs scored when Andhris Martinez worked a 1-out walk. Alarik Sierra and Seth Cervello both singled to load the bases. Jose Fichera then walked to score Martinez. Rafael Nakandakari followed with a sac fly to score Sierra.
Seena Amani picked up the complete game win allowing 3 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 batters. Alarik Sierra went 2-4 with an RBI while Jose Fichera added a hit and 2 RBI's. Brayden Fellouzis, Ray Cowen, and Rafael Nakandakari each picked up a hit and RBI while Andhris Martinez had an RBI and scored 2 runs. Estevan Ruiz and Seth Cervello each chipped in a hit in the Lakers win.
Next Up: These two teams will battle again tomorrow (4/27) as the Lakers travel to the Hawks in OCCAC action. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm.
