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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Lakeland baseball team fell to a pair of ranked teams on Sunday in the team's first two contests at its 12-game, seven-day spring break trip.
The Muskies (0-2) opened the season against Wooster, the nation's 14th-ranked team by D3baseball.com, surrendering runs in five consecutive innings on their way to a 7-0 loss.
Starting pitcher Jake Van Camp (Green Bay) pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Muskies, but wasn't helped by an offense that mustered only three hits in the game.
"'Camper' threw strikes and did what we thought he would do," Lakeland coach Chris Thousand said. "Our lack of offense really hurt us."
Lakeland also left four men on base in the first two innings, squandering opportunities to take an early lead after drawing three walks.
"I think our guys were a little anxious, and put a little too much pressure on themselves," Thousand said. "They tried to do too much at the plate."
Sophomore Matt Katzman (Prairie du Sac) and freshman Matt Buhrow (Edgerton) finished up the game on the mound for Lakeland. Buhrow tossed one inning of scoreless baseball in his collegiate debut.
In the second game of the day, Lakeland gave up seven runs in the second inning en route to a 13-2 loss to No. 28 Carthage.
The game was cut short to seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Starting pitcher Mike Ruzek (Manitowoc) had a good chance to get out of the disastrous second frame.
With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Chris D'Angelo of the Red Men hit a sharp ground ball to first baseman Travis Chell (Grantsburg), who threw to second with a chance for a double play. However, Ruzek, who though Chell was going to the plate, didn't cover first base, and the inning continuted.
Carthage went on to score six more runs, all with two outs. The Red Men pounded out 13 hits in the contest.
"Ruzek overthought the situation a little bit," Thousand said. "He puts a lot of high expectations on himself. He threw well, but his stuff wasn't there. It is a good foundation going forward."
Ruzek pitched two innings, surrendering 11 runs and 10 hits.
Lakeland took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior centerfielder Jake Heinemeyer (Shiocton), who singled to start the game, scored on a single by junior third baseman Doug Novak (Algoma) after advancing on two wild pitches.
Freshman left fielder Mike Huber (Reedsburg), who walked, scored on a double-play groundout by sophomore DH Jeremy Williams (Zion, Ill.) later in the inning.
Carthage would go on to score 13 unanswered runs.
Sophomore catcher Dave Novak (Algoma) led the way for the Muskies, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Senior Mike Phillips (Green Bay) tossed three innings, and freshman Garrett Morris (Janesville) made his collegiate debut, surrendering one earned run in one inning.
Today's games were part of the Snowbird Classic at North Regional Park.
The Muskies return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against St. Lawrence in Fort Myers, Fla., to begin the Gene Cusic Classic.
Lakeland baseball swept in season-opening doubleheader
Athletics - posted on 3/15/2009
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - The Lakeland baseball team fell to a pair of ranked teams on Sunday in the team's first two contests at its 12-game, seven-day spring break trip.
The Muskies (0-2) opened the season against Wooster, the nation's 14th-ranked team by D3baseball.com, surrendering runs in five consecutive innings on their way to a 7-0 loss.
Starting pitcher Jake Van Camp (Green Bay) pitched 6 1/3 innings for the Muskies, but wasn't helped by an offense that mustered only three hits in the game.
"'Camper' threw strikes and did what we thought he would do," Lakeland coach Chris Thousand said. "Our lack of offense really hurt us."
Lakeland also left four men on base in the first two innings, squandering opportunities to take an early lead after drawing three walks.
"I think our guys were a little anxious, and put a little too much pressure on themselves," Thousand said. "They tried to do too much at the plate."
Sophomore Matt Katzman (Prairie du Sac) and freshman Matt Buhrow (Edgerton) finished up the game on the mound for Lakeland. Buhrow tossed one inning of scoreless baseball in his collegiate debut.
In the second game of the day, Lakeland gave up seven runs in the second inning en route to a 13-2 loss to No. 28 Carthage.
The game was cut short to seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Starting pitcher Mike Ruzek (Manitowoc) had a good chance to get out of the disastrous second frame.
With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Chris D'Angelo of the Red Men hit a sharp ground ball to first baseman Travis Chell (Grantsburg), who threw to second with a chance for a double play. However, Ruzek, who though Chell was going to the plate, didn't cover first base, and the inning continuted.
Carthage went on to score six more runs, all with two outs. The Red Men pounded out 13 hits in the contest.
"Ruzek overthought the situation a little bit," Thousand said. "He puts a lot of high expectations on himself. He threw well, but his stuff wasn't there. It is a good foundation going forward."
Ruzek pitched two innings, surrendering 11 runs and 10 hits.
Lakeland took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Junior centerfielder Jake Heinemeyer (Shiocton), who singled to start the game, scored on a single by junior third baseman Doug Novak (Algoma) after advancing on two wild pitches.
Freshman left fielder Mike Huber (Reedsburg), who walked, scored on a double-play groundout by sophomore DH Jeremy Williams (Zion, Ill.) later in the inning.
Carthage would go on to score 13 unanswered runs.
Sophomore catcher Dave Novak (Algoma) led the way for the Muskies, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Senior Mike Phillips (Green Bay) tossed three innings, and freshman Garrett Morris (Janesville) made his collegiate debut, surrendering one earned run in one inning.
Today's games were part of the Snowbird Classic at North Regional Park.
The Muskies return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against St. Lawrence in Fort Myers, Fla., to begin the Gene Cusic Classic.
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