The Lakeland baseball team played host to the Cuyahoga Triceratops in a doubleheader on Monday at Laker Field. In game 1, the Lakers took advantage of some timely hitting to defeat the Triceratops 5-3. Cuyahoga jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. The Lakers responded in the bottom of the second inning by scoring 3 runs to take a 3-2 lead. Austin Heeter got the inning started with a leadoff single. The Cuyahoga pitcher then issued two 2-out walks to both Stephen Osowski and Cody Hejduk. Seth Cervello then stepped to the plate and ripped a 2-RBI single to tie the game briefly. Rafael Nakandakari Alves followed Cervello and laced a go ahead single for Lakeland. The Lakers added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Caden Gopalakrishna led off with a double for the Lakers. With 1 out, Cody Crawford delivered an RBI-single to push the Lakers lead to 4-2. The Triceratops would try to battle back by scoring a run in the top of the 5th inning to make the score 4-3. The Lakers answered in the home half of the 5th by pushing across the final run of the game. Kyle Zaluski hit a leadoff single to get the Lakers started. Zaluski stole second base and later scored on an RBI-single from Gopalakrishna.
Caden Gopalakrishna finished the game going 2-3 with an RBI. Seth Cervello went 1-3 with 2 RBI's while both Cody Crawford and Rafael Nakandakari Alves went 1-3 with an RBI. Austin Heeter and Kyle Zaluski both picked up a hit and scored a run for the Lakers. Abe Bayus picked up the win for the Lakers as he hurled 5 innings and allowed 2 hits and 3 runs (2 earned) while striking out 6 batters. Lenny Feckner relieved and pitched a scoreless 6th inning before Owen Mansfield picked up the save pitching a perfect 7th inning.
In game 2, the Lakers came up short in a close game by a score of 4-1. Lakeland started Seena Amani pitched brilliantly for 6 innings. Amani kept the Triceratops off the board and held a 1-0 advantage after 6 innings. The Lakers scored their run in the 5th inning when Rafael Nakandakari Alves doubled with one out. Kyle Zaluski then ripped a double to score Alves and give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Tri-C broke through in the top of the 7th inning and scored 4 runs. The Lakers were unable to recover in the home half of the 7th as their 5 game wining streak was snapped.
Kyle Zaluski led the way for the Lakers going 3-4 with an RBI. Rafael Nakandakari Alves went 2-4 and scored the Lakers lone run. Cody Crawford, Caden Gopalakrishna, Stephen Osowski, and Riley Wallace each picked up a hit in the loss. Seena Amani took the hard luck loss pitching 6.1 innings and allowing 4 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 6 batters. Michael Beckman relieved and got the last 2 outs while giving up 1 hit.
Next Up: On Tuesday (4/11), the Lakers will travel to Sports Force Park in Sandusky to face the Terra State Titans. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
