The Golden Eagles baseball team had a hard time keeping up with Lakeland Community College, as the homestanding Lakers took a lopsided doubleheader by scores of 12-0 & 11-1.

The opening game featured a no-hit shutout as the hosts smacked two home runs---one in each of the second and fourth innings---and banged out 12 hits in the five-inning game shortened by the mercy rule. Lakeland used a five-run first inning to take command and added two more runs in the second and another five-spot in the fourth.

A combination of five Lakers pitchers limited the Eagles to just six hits in another five-inning affair. They plated a run in the home half of the first and got five more in the second and third innings on the strength of extra base hits. A homerun, triple and double were the biggest stars of the high scoring affair.

The Eagles scored their lone run in the top of the second inning when Trevor Kohler singled to right field, Tyler Randles reached on an error and Sebastian Hanlan was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Justin Crowl stepped to the plate and smacked a ground ball single into left field to bring Kohler home with the Navy and Gold's only run of the game. A walk loaded the bases again, but a strikeout ended the inning.

KSU Tusc had another good scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases on singles by Kyle Stotzer, Jacob Bialecki and Kohler. A strikeout and fly out ended the threat as the game ended early.

Bialecki and Kohler were both 2/3 at the plate with two singles each to pace the Golden Eagles.

Owen Poland delivers a pitch against Lakeland.                                       (Photo by Jim Cummings)