Lakeland College

Muskies crush Raiders in NAC doubleheader

Athletics - posted on 4/30/2011

The Lakeland College softball team swept the Milwaukee School of Engineering in Northern Athletics Conference action Saturday afternoon at Muskie Field.

The Muskies (14-22, 14-8 NAC) took game one 6-3, and crushed the Raiders in five innings in game two for 15-0 win.

Lakeland took an early lead in both games and played great defensive to earn the two NAC wins. Lakeland now puts itself in position for a bid the NAC Tournament on May 5-7.

In game one, Lakeland got on the board first scoring three runs in the first inning as leadoff batter, freshman Sammy Rieder (St. Cloud, Wis.) hit a triple. Rieder was brought home when sophomore Heather Haeflinger (Shawano, Wis.) hit a triple of her own and scored on MSOE's error. Junior Leah Sheahan (Salem, Wis.) rounded out Lakeland's runs in the first inning on an RBI by sophomore Erin Henk (Hoopeston, Ill.)

The Muskies went scoreless for four innings, but recorded another three runs in the sixth to secure the win. MSOE's Courtney Leaf hit a three-run homer in the seventh to make things interesting, but the Muskies defense prevailed.

Lakeland couldn't miss the ball in game two as they went on to score a season-high 15 runs.

Haeflinger got things started in the first inning as she singled to bring home Rieder who got on base on an MSOE error. Hitting was contagious in the first inning as Lakeland scored six runs on six hits.

The Muskies went on to impose their will on MSOE in the second, third and fourth innings. The Raiders didn't have an answer for Lakeland's hitting abilities.

Freshman Samm Janc (Worth, Ill.) led the team as she recorded four RBIs and two runs, while going 2-for-3 from the plate. Sheahan chipped in with two RBIs, three runs and two hits. While sophomore Jenny LaLuzerne (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) scored three runs and posted an RBI.

Freshman Brittany Jurek (Gladstone, Mich.) and Chelsea Gile (Grand Junction, Mich.) had an impressive afternoon at the plate as they both went 2-for-3 and scored a run. Jurek recorded two RBIs and hit a triple.

Lakeland recorded nine doubles and three triples in its doubleheader.

Head coach Chad Buchmann liked the team's determination and focus.

"We came out to win today," said Buchmann. "We knew we had to win these two games to get into the NAC Tournament and we did just that. Everything was on today for us. We bunted well, we hit well and we scored runs."

On the pitching mound, Henk and freshman Marissa Roovers (Appleton, Wis.) both earned another win as they pitched well. In game one, Henk recorded two strikeouts while giving up three runs on seven hits. Roovers also recorded two strikeouts and gave up no runs on only one hit.

Lakeland returns to NAC action on Monday, May 2, as they travel to Lisle, Ill. to take on Benedictine University. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.

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