Lakeland College

Hough, Henk help Muskies to split of extra-inning games in Florida

Athletics - posted on 3/12/2013

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Ashley Hough (Fr.-Rapid River, Mich.) drove in the winning run with an eighth-inning bunt and Erin Henk (Sr.-Hoopeston, Ill.) picked up an extra-inning complete game win as the Lakeland College softball team defeated Fitchburg State (Mass.) University 2-1 in its second game Tuesday afternoon in the Rebel Spring Games.

The Muskies came up with a split of two eight-inning games on Tuesday, getting a win after opening with an 8-7 loss to Kean (N.J.) University. Lakeland is now 3-6 overall this season and 2-4 on its spring break trip to Florida.

Hough finished with three of Lakeland's five hits and drove in the game-winning run in the second game by bunting and reaching on a fielder's choice while Jenny LaLuzerne (Sr.-Sturgeon Bay, Wis.) scored. Henk then came on and closed the door after the Falcons started the inning with a runner placed on second per the international tiebreaker rule, getting a strikeout, a pop up and a groundout to pick up the win.

Henk won a pitcher's duel with Fitchburg State's Kerry Alcott, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out one. Alcott was just as good, allowing five hits and two runs and getting six strikeouts.

Brittany Jurek (Jr.-Gladstone, Mich.) added an RBI single, giving the Muskies the lead in the sixth inning. Fitchburg State tied the score in the bottom of the seventh, though, taking advantage of two hits and a pair of Lakeland errors to tie the score.

The Muskies staged a huge rally in their first game of the day, only to see it come up short at the end. Seemingly headed for an ugly loss, Lakeland scored seven times in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game.

Jurek and Heather Haeflinger (Sr.-Shawano, Wis.) both hit two-run singles in the inning as the Muskies batted around and generated seven runs with five hits, four more than they had in the first five innings against Cougars hurler Courtney Yard. Hough drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Henk and Kathryn Tighe (Fr.-Brownsville, Wis.) added RBI singles.

Yard drove in a run in the top of the eighth to put Kean back ahead, but the Muskies got out of a further jam. Lakeland was unable to take advantage of its chance under international tiebreaker rules, though, as Henk advanced to third but was stranded there at the end.

Melissa Noll (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis.) took the loss for the Muskies, allowing 13 hits and eight runs (four earned) while striking out two and walking six.

Lakeland has a day off Wednesday before returning to the field Thursday to face Montclair State (N.J.) University at 10 a.m. Central time.