The Lakeland softball team played host to the Hocking Hawks today at Laker Field. The Lakers came out a bit flat in the game 1 loss before playing a hard-fought relentless attack in game 2 to beat the Hawks and earn a split on the day. The Lakers lost game 1 13-2 and won game 2 by a score of 16-15. In game 1, the Lakers were unable to get an offensive attack going. The Hawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning. Lakeland began to chip away by scoring a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. The inning started with a Kennedy Danna single. Reagan Hayes executed a sac bunt to move Danna to 2nd. Danna would score on a ball that Megan Szczecinski hit that the Hawks 3rd basemen could not handle cleanly. The score remained 3-1 until the top of the 4th inning when the Hawks scored 3 runs to make it 6-1. The Hawks then scored 7 more runs in the top of the 5th inning as they coupled timely hitting with some walks and a couple of Laker miscues. Gina Grandini would score in the bottom of the 5th inning after she reached by being hit by a pitch. Grandini eventually came around and scored on a catchers error. Offensively, Gina Grandini paced the Lakers in game 1 going 2-2 with a run scored. Tatianna Matuz and Kennedy Danna also picked up a hit for the Lakers. Lily Seay took the loss on the mound as she pitched 5 innings and allowed 13 runs (10 earned) on 9 hits.
In game 2, the Lakers showed tremendous heart and character. The Hawks started by scoring a run in the top of the 1st inning. The Lakers answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gina Grandini led the game off by being hit by another pitch. Tatianna Matuz followed by walking. Astianna Coppes then hit a fielder's choice where Grandini was cut down at 3rd base. Micaha Marbury then stepped to the plate and blasted a 3-run homerun to give the Lakers the early lead. In the top of the 2nd inning, the Hawks scored 5 runs to retake the lead at 6-3. The Lakers then battled back to retake the lead by scoring 4 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Megan Szczecinski led off with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Szczecinski would then score on a single from Lily Seay. Later in the inning, Seay would get out on a fielders choice from Gina Grandini. Grandini would then score on a RBI double from Tatianna Matuz. Astianna Coppes and Marbury would then both reach base on errors from the Hawks before Kennedy Danna ripped a 2-RBI double to give the Lakers the 7-6 lead. The lead did not last long as the Hawks responded with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd to give the Hawks a 9-7 lead. In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Lakers would score another run to trim the lead to 9-8. Micaha Marbury got things started with a leadoff double. Later in the inning, Reagan Hayes singled to put runners at the corners. Megan Szczecinski then hit a RBI ground out. The Lakers shut the Hawks down through 7 innings giving themselves a chance to tie or win it. In the bottom of the 7th inning, Samantha Toke hit a ball that the Hawk first baseman could not handle. She advanced all the way to 3rd base on two passed balls. Gina Grandini then hit a sac fly to right to allow Toke to score and send the game to extra innings. The Hawks battled and scored 6 runs in the top of the 8th inning as they strung some hits together. The Lakers, now down 15-9 going into the bottom of the 8th inning, refused to quit. Kennedy Danna started the inning ripping a single that the outfielder misplayed allowing Danna to get to 3rd base. Reagan Hayes was then hit by a pitch. Danna scored and Hayes advanced on a wild pitch before Megan Szczecinski hit an RBI single. Lily Seay then walked and was followed by an RBI single from Samantha Toke - making the definit 3 at 15-12. Gina Grandini was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tatianna Matuz then stepped to the plate and ripped a bases clearing double to tie the game at 15. Matuz advanced to third on a defensive misplay. The Hawks brought the corners in very close and intentionally walked Astianna Coppes. She later stole 2nd base. With the fielder's still in, the Hawks intended to intentionally walk Micaha Marbury to put the force on at all bases. Marbury had differnt plans though as a pitch got too close to the plate on a 3-0 count. Marbury ripped a ball to deep right center easily allowing Matuz to score the winning run for the Lakers.
Micaha Marbury finished game 2 by going 3-4 with 4 RBI's and 2 runs scored. Tatianna Matuz went 2-5 with 4 RBI's and 3 runs scored. Kennedy Danna, Lily Seay, and Samantha Toke each picked up 2 hits for the Lakers. Astianna Coppes, Reagan Hayes, and Megan Szczecinski each finished with a hit in the Lakers win. Tatianna Matuz gutted out pitching all 8 inning in the Lakers win while Reagan Hayes made several blocks behind the plate to help lead the Lakers.
Next Up: The Lakers are scheduled to travel to Victory Park to play the Lorain Community College Commodores on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
