The Lakeland baseball team played host to the Jamestown Jayhawks today in non-league action and came away with a split losing the first one 15-3 before run-ruling the Jayhawks in the 2nd game 12-2 (5 innings). Game 1 was a a tight ballgame until the 7th inning. Ethan Duncan started on the mound and pitched 6 strong innings before exiting with the game tied at 3. In the top of the 7th inning, the Lakers didn't make a few plays in the field and the Jayhawks strong together several hits to take game one. The game started with the Lakers taking a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning. Wilfredo Ortiz led off the innng with a single before Josiah Cuesta reached on an error. Miguel Fuentes walked to load the bases and Nicholas Square followed with an RBI-single. Lakeland would make it 2-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning. James LaVigne got the inning started with a double. Ortiz then singled to put the runners at the corners. Ortiz then got caught in a rundown and made a smart play as he advanced toward second before being tagged out. This extra time allowed LaVigne to race home for the Lakers. In the top of the 4th inning, the Jayhawks would put a run on the scoreboard before Lakeland answered back with a run in the home half of the inning. Nicholas Square started the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Square advanced to second on Tony Hall fielder's choice. Kaleb Corrin would then advance Square to 3rd base with a single. Ray Cowen followed with an RBI-sac fly. The Jayhawks tied the game in the top of the 5th inning as they strung together 3 singles. The score remain tied at 3 until the tough 7th inning.
On the mound, Ethan Duncan pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 3 batters. Casen Smith relieved and took the tough loss while pitching .2 innings. Nathan Hawkins closed out the game getting the final out for the Lakers. Wilfredo Ortiz picked up 2 hits while Nicholas Square had a hit and RBI. James LaVigne (2B), Brayden Fellouzis, and Kaleb Corrin each added a hit while Ray Cowen picked up an RBI.
The Lakers turned the page quickly in game 2. In the bottom of the first inning, Lakeland took a 3-0 lead on the strength of a Brayden Fellouzis home run. With 1 out, Ray Cowen doubled and then stole 3rd base. Miguel Fuentes than walked before Fellouzis homered. The score remained 3-0 until the top of the 3rd inning when the Jayhawks plated 2 runs to make the score 3-2. Lakeland then erupted for 9 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to put the game out of reach. Kaleb Corrin started the inning with a leadoff double. Ray Cowen followed with an RBI-double. Wilfredo Ortiz then hit an RBI-single before Fuentes was hit by a pitch. Avery Perryman then singled to load the bases before Nathan Hawkins worked an RBI-walk. Tony Hall followed with a 2 RBI-single. Thomas Vokic then ripped a 2-RBI double before Ray Cowen later hit another RBI-double. Wilfredo Ortiz closed out the Lakers scoring with another RBI-double for the Lakers.
Lakeland hit 6 doubles in this game. Ray Cowen was 3-3 with 3 doubles, 2 RBI's, and 3 runs scored. Wilfredo Ortiz had a pair of hits including a double and 2 RBI's while Brayden Fellouzis finished with a home run and 3 RBI's. Thomas Vokic had a hit (2B) and 2 RBI's while Tony Hall picked up a hit and an RBI. Kaleb Corrin added a double while Nathan Hawkins picked up an RBI and scored a run. Avery Perryman also added a hit and a run in the Lakers win.
On the mound, Jackson Smith pitched the complete game victory as he threw 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits while striking out 4 batters.
Next Up: The Lakers open OCCAC play next Friday (3/21) when they host the Clark State Eagles at Laker Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
