The Lakers softball team played a doubleheader today in Florida and dropped a pair of tight games. The Lakers faced off against the Illinois Valley Eagles in game 1 today and dropped a 6-5 decision. Four of their losses this year have come by 1 run. Lakeland went ahead in the top of the 1st inning when Peyton Trick doubled. Trick advanced to 3rd on an Astianna Coppes fielder's choice and then scored when Midaliz Alvarez hit a ball that the Eagle defense could not handle. The Lakers went up 2-0 in the 3rd inning. Trick again got things started with a single. Trick would later socre on a Midaliz Alvarez double. The Eagles would take the lead in the bottom of the 3rd inniing as the Eagles took advantage of Laker errors to score 3 runs. Illinois Valley would again take advantage of a Laker error in the 4th inning to increase their lead to 4-2. The Lakers would tie the score in the top of the 5th inning. Carmen Alvarez got things started with a double. Alvarez advanced to 3rd base on a Trick fielder's choice. Coppes would follow with another fielder's choice allowing Alvarez to score. Midaliz Alvarez would then double and come around to score on a double by Reagan Hayes. The Eagles would score 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th inniing to take a 6-4 lead. In the top of the 7th inning, Astianna Coppes would single and advance to second base on an error. Midaliz Alvarez would hit an RBI double and get cut down trying to advance to 3rd base. After that, the Lakers were unable to finish the comeback as they left a runner stranded at first.

Midaliz Alvarez went 3-4 and hit 3 doubles with 1 RBI. Reagan Hayes went 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI's. Peyton Trick and Carmen Alvarez each collected 2 hits with a double. Astianna Coppes picked up a hit and an RBI while Lilly Agostine added a hit for the Lakers. Trick took the tough luck loss pitching the complete game and allowing 6 runs (3 earned) on 11 hits.   

In game 2, the Lakers were trailing 2-0 when they scored 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning. Midaliz Alvarez started things with a single. Abby Haydu then singled before Alvarez scored on an RBI-single by Reagan Hayes. Haydu would then score on an RBI-single from Megan Szczecinski while Hayes advanced to 3rd base. Hayes would then score on a sac fly from Lillyan Agostine. The Warriors would then score 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd ininig as they took advantage of a couple of walks and a Laker error. In the top of the 3rd inniing, the Lakers would score 2 more runs to cut into the deficit making the score 7-5. Peyton Trick got things going with a single. Trick advanced on an Astianna Coppes fielders choice. Trick would then score on an RBI-double from Midaliz Alvarez. Alvarez would later score on an RBI-single from Reagan Hayes. The Warriors tacked on 2 more runs to take a 9-5 lead going into the top of the 7th inning. The Lakers would score one run, but ultimately, the rally would fall short. The run scored when Trick doubled and advanced to 3rd base on a Coppes fly out.  Trick later scored on an RBI-single from M. Alvarez.

Midaliz Alvarez went 3-4 (2B) with 2 RBI's while Peyton Trick and Reagan Hayes each picked up 2 hits and 2 RBI's. Lillyan Agostine and Megan Szczecinski each recorded a hit and a RBI wile Astianna Coppes and Abby Haydu each picked up a hit in the defeat. Lily Seay pitched the complete game allowing 9 runs (8 earned) while striking out 5 batters.

Next Up: The Lakers continue their spring trip by playing the NJCAA's #1 ranked Parkland College and then Spoon River Community College.