After being rained out yesterday, the Lakers were finally able to play their season opener in Myrtle Beach, SC. Unfortunately for Lakeland, they dropped their opening game to Mercer County Community College by a score of 7-3 and then fell in the nightcap by a score of 4-0 to Rio Grande. In game 1, Lakeland trailed 1-0 after giving up an unearned run in the first inning. The Lakers would bounce back in the top of the 5th inning as they scoired 2 runs to take the lead. The inning started with a Catherine Heckman single. Autumn Fester would then draw a walk and both would advance on a passed ball. Megan Szczecinski would then lhit a sacrifice fly to plate the Lakers first run. Fester would later score on another passed ball. Mercer would answer by taking advantage of costly Lakeland errors to score 3 in the bottom of the 5th to regain the lead at 4-3. Lakeland would continue to battle and tie the game in the top of the 6th inning. Tatianna Matuz would hit a one out double before Astianna Coppes brought her home on an RBI single. Catherine Heckman would follow with a single and then steal a base to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out in a tie game. Unfortunately, the Lakers would falter from there and were unable to recapture the lead. Mercer would then score 3 more times; again, taking advantage of Lakeland miscues. Lily Seay pitched 6 innings and allowed 7 runs (2 earned) on 10 hits. She also struck out 4 batters.

In game 2, the Lakers gave up 3 runs in the first inning. From there, Faith Hartman settled down and held Rio Grande off the board until they scored 1 run in the 5th inning. Hartman finished the game pitching 6 innings and allowing 4 earned runs while striking out 2 batters. Lakeland managed just two hits in the nightcap. Tatianna Matuz and Catherine Heckman both went 1-3 for the Lakers.

Kramer's Comments: "We really battled and fought hard in the first game. In the second game, we just struggled to pick up their pitcher. Both of our pitchers (Seay and Hartman) pitched extremely well - they gave us a chance to win both games. It was a good effort for our first time playing outside this year. The team worked hard, hustled, and had a great attitude. I'm excited to see how we develop from here."