The Lakeland softball team traveled to Owens Community College today to play the Express in a doubleheader. The Lakers split with the Express dropping game 1 by a score of 9-2 before bouncing back and winning 6-5 in game 2. The Lakers had several defensive miscues in game 1 that plagued them. Lily Seay took the tough luck loss as she pitched 6 innings and allowed 9 runs (2 earned). The Lakers trailed 5-0 after 3 innings of play. Lakeland tried to battle back and scored a pair of runs in the 5th inning to make the score 5-2. In the 5th inning, Samantha Toke singled to get the Lakers going. Gina Grandini followed with a single before Tatianna Matuz hit an RBI-single. Later in the inning, Astianna Coppes scored Grandini on a sac fly. Unfortunately, in the home half of the 5th inning, the Express would answer by scoring 4 runs and close out the win. Lily Seay, Gina Grandini, and Tatianna Matuz each had 2 hits for the Lakers. Astianna Coppes and Reagan Hayes each added a hit for Lakeland.

The Lakers came out ready to play in game 2. Lakeland set the tone in the first inning with aggressive baserunning. Gina Grandini led the game off with a walk and advanced to 2nd base on a passed ball. The Express then threw a wild pitch and Grandini came all the way around to score to give the Lakers an early 1-0 lead. The score would remain until the bottom of the 3rd inning when the Express scored two runs. Owens tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to give the Express a 4-1 edge after 4 innings. The Lakers roared back in the top of the 5th inning. Samantha Toke started it for the Lakers with a one out walk. With two outs, Tatianna Matuz ripped a shot by the Owens 3rd baseman that allowed Toke to score. Astianna Coppes followed with a single to put runners at the corner. Micaha Marbry then stepped to the plate and hit a 2-RBI double to tie the score at 4. Kennedy Danna followed by ripping a double to score Marbury and give the Lakers a 5-4 lead. The score would remain until the top of the 7th inning. With 2 outs, Danna hit a single. Reagan Hayes then hit a single and Danna pushed the envelope to get to 3rd. The Express tried to get the lead runner but were unable to make the play and instead made an error allowing Danna to score an important insurance run. In the bottom of the 7th, the Express would score one run before Tatianna Matuz shut the door. Matuz pitched 7 innings and allowed 5 runs on 11 hits. Kennedy Danna went 2-3 with 1 RBI while Astianna Coppes also picked up 2 hits for the Lakers.  Micaha Marbury went 1-4 with a 2-RBI double while Tatianna Matuz went 1-4 with an RBI.

Next Up: The Lakers play host to the Hocking Hawks in a doubleheader at Laker Field on Saturday (4/15). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.