The Lakers baseball team played host to the Cuyahoga Triceratops in OCCAC action today at Laker Field. In game 1, the Lakers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 1 inning on the strength of an Estevan Ruiz 3-run home run. Jose Fichera started things for the Lakers with a 2-out single. Rafael Nakandakari then reached on an error before Ruiz's blast cleared the left field wall. Brayden Fellouzis followed with a double and Ray Cowen knocked Fellouzis in with an RBI-single. The Triceratops would take advantage of a Lakeland error in the top of the 2nd to make the score 4-1. That score would hold until the top of the 4th inning when Cuyahoga erupted for 5 runs. Lakeland wasted no time in responding as they plated 4 more runs in the home half of the 4th inning to regain the lead at 8-6. Ray Cowen was hit by a pitch and then Jhonuel Dimas walked. Cowen would score as Cuyahoga made consecutive errors on balls hit by Alarik Sierra and Seth Cervello. Jose Fichera followed with a 2-RBI double. Rafael Nakandakari followed that with an RBI-single. The Lakers would tack on one more insurance run in the bottom of the 6th inning. Alarik Sierra worked a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Seth Cervello. Jose Fichera drove Sierra home with an RBI double.
Riley Wallace started and earned the win pitching 5 innings and scattering 7 hits while allowing 6 runs. Julien Bourgeois entered with runners on in the 6th inning and calmly pitched his way out of the situation. Bourgeois worked around a Laker error leading to an unearned run in the 7th while picking up the save. Offensively, Jose Fichera went 4-4 (3-2B's) with 3 RBI's. Estevan Ruiz hit a homer and had 3 RBI's while both Ray Cowen and Rafael Nakandakari added a hit and RBI. Brayden Fellouzis (2B) and Jhonuel Dimas also collected hits in the Lakers win.
In game 2, Lakeland took advantage of 12 Cuyahoga issued walks and 2 hit batters to cruise to an 11-2 victory. Lakeland started hot again in the 1st inning. Alarik Sierra, Seth Cervello, and Jose Fichera started the game with walks. Rafael Nakandakari hit an RBI-single before Estevan Ruiz picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice. The Lakers expanded their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second ining as they took advantage of 4 walks, a hit batter, and 2 wild pitches to score 4 runs. Cuyahoga scored 2 runs in the top of the 3rd inning before Lakeland responded with 5 unanswered runs in the 4th inning. Lakeland combined 5 more walks with a hit batter and a 2-RBI single from Alarik Sierra to close out the scoring.
Stephen Osowski was dominant on the mound as he scattered 3 hits and 2 earned runs over 7 inning of work in picking up the win. Rafael Nakandakari and Alarik Sierra each had a hit and 2 RBI's while Jose Fichera, Andhris Martinez, and Estevan Ruiz each picked up an RBI. Brayden Fellouzis and Seth Cervello each chipped in a hit in the Lakers win.
