The Lakeland softball team traveled to Berea yesterday to take on the Baldwin Wallace Yellowjackets in non-league action. The Lakers had two close games, but were unable to get over the hump, as they fell by the scores of 6-5 and 13-10. Game 1 was a classic back and forth affair as BW jumped out to a 1-0 lead scoring a run in the home half of the 1st inning. In the 4th inning, Lakeland would explode for 4 runs. Kennedy Danna led off the inning with a double. Reagan Hayes followed that with an RBI double. Megan Szczecinski would then reach on an error before Samantha Toke ripped a 2-RBI double. Toke would later score as Tatianna Matuz stroked an RBI single to give the Lakers a 4-1 lead. The Yellowjackets would battle back though and score 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th inning to regain the lead at 5-4. The Lakers continued to fight though. In the top of the 7th inning, Gina Grandini would triple and then score on another RBI single from Matuz to knot the score at 5. BW would take advantage of the last ups as they hit a walk off base hit to seal the win at 6-5. Tatianna Matuz finished the game going 2-4 with 2-RBI's. Kennedy Danna went 2-3 with a run scored while Samantha Toke went 1-3 with 2-RBI's and a run scored. Reagan Hayes finished game 1 going 1-3 with an RBI while Astianna Coppes went 1-2 in the opening game. Lily Seay took the tough luck loss pitching a complete game and allowing 6 runs while striking out three.

Game 2 featured two teams with explosive offenses that ran out of daylight. BW would do their damage in 2 innings while the Lakers scored on a more consistent basis. Lakeland would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Gina Grandini hit a leadoff double and would score an RBI single from Catherine Heckman. The Lakers would plate another run after Kennedy Danna, Reagan Hayes, and then Autumn Fester worked walks to force Heckman to score. BW would then answer by scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Lakers would start to answer in the top of the 2nd inning. Grandini would again get things started with a 1-out single. She would then score on a Tatianna Matuz double. Matuz would then advance to 3rd on a passed ball and score on a fielder's choice from Catherine Heckman. The Lakers would hold BW in the home half of the second before exploding for 5 runs in the top of the 3rd inning. Autumn Fester and Lily Seay would work 1-out walks before Samantha Toke unloaded a 2-RBI triple to give the Lakers a 6-5 lead. Gina Grandini would then walk and Tatianna Matuz would rip a 3-run homer to give the Lakers a 9-5 lead. Unfortunately for Lakeland, BW would answer as they took advantage of timely hitting and Lakers miscues to score 8 runs and take a 13-9 lead. With it getting late in the day due to daylight, the Lakers had one more chance. Astianna Coppes was able to work a 2-out walk and eventually scored on a passed ball. Unfortunately for Lakeland, that is how the game would end.

Gina Grandini finished 2-3 with a walk and 3 runs scored. Tatianna Matuz finished the nightcap going 2-4 with 4 RBI's while both Catherine Heckman and Samantha Toke went 1-3 with 2 RBI's. Astianna Coppes and Lily Seay both finished 1-2 with a run scored. Faith Hartman hurled 3.2 innings and allowed 12 runs (8 earned). Matuz relieved and got the final out for the Lakers.