The Lakeland baseball team continued its spring trip by having to deal with inclimate weather. As a result, a game was cancelled and the Lakers were scheduled to play the Oakton Owls in a single 9-inning game. The Owls would carry a 1-0 lead into the top of the 5th inning when the Lakers would take the lead by scoring 3 runs - all with 2 outs. Estevan Ruiz would single and steal second base to get the Lakers started. Seth Cervello would then follow with a game tying RBI-single. Rafael Nakandakari would follow with an RBI double before Brayden Fellouzis scored Nakandakari with an RBI-single to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead after the visiting half of the 5th inning. The Owls would answer right back in the home half as they plated 2 runs to knot the game at 3 after 5 innings. The score would remain tied until the top of the 9th inning. Alarik Sierra started things for the Lakers with a 1-out single. Ruiz would follow with a walk to put runners on first and second. Rafael Nakandakari then hit a slow roller toward 3rd base and hustled down the line putting pressure on the Owl 3rd baseman. In trying to make the play, the throw was wide pulling the first baseman off the bag and allowing Sierra the time to score from second base. The Lakers just needed to shut the Owls down in the home half of the inning to secure their first win of the season. Logan Metz was up to the challenge as he struck out the side to earn the win for Lakeland.

Jackson Smith started and pitched well for the Lakers throwing 4.1 innings and allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits while striking out 7 batters. Logan Metz finished the game pitching 4.2 scoreless innings allowing 1 hit while striking out 9 batters. Metz struck out 9 of the 16 batters he faced. Lakeland had 7 hits in the game and made them all count. Rafael Nakandakari and Estevan Ruiz each collected 2 hits while Nakandakari added and RBI. Seth Cervello (also 1-RBI), Brayden Fellouzis, and Alarik Sierra collected the other hits in the Laker win.

Next Up: The Lakers follow an off-day on Monday with a doubleheader on Tuesday. The Lakers are scheduled to play both Moraine Valley CC and Adirondack CC on Tuesday.