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2012 spring break recap


Athletics - posted on 3/19/2012

As we head into the second half of the 2012 spring semester, here's a look at what happened in Lakeland athletics over the spring break.

Softball

The Lakeland College softball team recorded a 3-7 record at its annual Tucson Invitational spring break trip in Tucson, Ariz., on March 10-16.

Sophomore Chelsea Gile led the Muskies with a .391 batting average. The Grand Junction, Mich., native powered the team to a 9-7 win over Nazareth College on March 16 when she hit a grand slam in the third inning. She finished the Invitational with nine hits, five RBIs and runs and three doubles.

Juniors Heather Haeflinger and McKenna Wenzel also posted solid performances for the Muskies.  Haeflinger recorded a team-high nine hits, while recording six runs and three triples. The Shawano, Wis., native posted a .321 batting average and stole four bases on four attempts.

Wenzel led the team in RBIs with nine, while recording three doubles to go along with a .381 batting average.

On the mound, junior Erin Henk posted a 3-3 record and eight strikeouts.

Offensively, Lakeland had 66 hits and 14 doubles, but defensively gave up 81 runs on 112 hits.

See what head coach Chad Buchmann thought about the team's efforts in Arizona: http://youtu.be/S6tYeLkOcLc

Lakeland opens Northern Athletics Conference play on March 28 as they host Alverno College in a doubleheader.

Baseball

The Lakeland College baseball team returned from its annual trip to Fort Myers, Fla., as the Muskies took part in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, March 11-17.

The Muskies went 6-3 in their nine games, hitting .340, slugging .410 and scoring 60 runs. Meanwhile, Lakeland's pitching staff finished the trip with a 4.05 ERA, holding opponents to a .227 average and allowing just 39 runs. The Muskies struck out 47 batters against 39 walks. 

Leading the offensive charge was sophomore catcher Brent Steudel (Hortonville, Wis.), who finished the trip with a .423 average (11-for-26) with four RBIs and three runs scored. Sophomore outfielder Charlie Sparrow (Milwaukee, Wis.) was second on the team with a .414 average (12-for-29) with nine RBIs and seven runs scored. He had a .483 slugging percentage and stole three bases.

Senior Mike Ruzek (Manitowoc, Wis.) did everything for the Muskies as he played third base, right field and pitched. As a hitter, Ruzek batted .387 (12-for-31) with six RBIs, nine runs scored, a .484 slugging percentage, .525 on-base percentage and he led the team with seven hit-by-pitches. The 6-foot-3 righty also went 1-0 in two starts with a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings. Ruzek allowed six runs, three earned, on seven hits while striking out a team-high 11 hitters. Opponents are hitting just .156 against him with four walks.

Sophomore righty Derek Loomans was also impressive, going 2-0 in two appearances, with one start. The Brandon, Wis., native recorded a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings pitched, allowing three runs on eight hits. Loomans struck out eight batters while holding opponents to a .224 average.

The Muskies hope to continue their solid play and make a run at the Northern Athletics Conference Championship this spring.

Hear what first-year head coach Michael Bachar has to say about his team's performance here. http://youtu.be/PHTLVU80m9c

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