By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Kirtland, OH---Olivia Reeder collected five RBIs as the No. 16 Express softball team split a doubleheader against Lakeland Community College on the road to open Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play.
Game 1: No. 16 Owens 13 Lakeland 4 (Five Innings)
Reeder collected a team-high four RBIs, while Melanie Iacoangeli and Amanda Sinay each added three hits apiece to lead the Express to a game one victory.
In all, six Express players had at least two hits in the come from behind victory.
Express starter Katilyn Turski gave up a first inning solo homer that allowed Lakeland to take the early 1-0 lead before the Express offense awakened for five second inning runs.
The rally started with a one out walk by Katie Butler, who then scored during the next at bat thanks to a two-run home run to left center by Alyssa Lassey.
After Mareshah Scott singled and moved to second on a groundout, Hannah Shank blooped an RBI single to center to give the Express a 3-1 lead.
The next batter, Iacoangeli, singled to center to set up a two-run double to left center by Reeder that put the Express up four.
In the third, Aubrey Szala hit her second solo home run of the game for Lakeland to trim her team's deficit to three.
However, the Express added five more runs in the fourth to break the game open.
Jaylee Glad and Iacoangeli each had RBI singles for the first two runs. Reeder followed with a sacrifice fly, and Butler hit a line drive off Lakeland's third baseman for a two-run single.
After Lakeland added another solo run in the bottom half, the Express scored three more times in the fifth on an RBI double by Shank, a squeeze bunt by Reeder and an RBI single from Sinay.
Chantel Smith hit Lakeland's third solo home run of the game in the bottom half, but it wasn't enough.
Iacoangeli (3-for-4, three runs, one RBI) and Sinay (3-for-4, run, RBI) led the Express offense, while Lassey, Scott, Glad and Shank each had two hits. Reeder finished 1-for-2 with four RBIs.
Szala led Lakeland at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs.
Turski went the distance to pick up the win for the Express. The freshman allowed six hits, four runs (three earned) and zero walks while striking out two in her five innings of work.
Kara Fitzgerald took the loss for Lakeland as she allowed 16 hits, 13 runs and two walks in five innings. She did not strike out a batter.
Iacoangeli had three stolen bases, while Sinay had two. Glad and Scott added one apiece.
Game 2: Lakeland 9 No. 16 Owens 1 (Five Innings)
The Express offense went dormant in the second game as Lakeland's Morgan Redmond her competition to three hits.
In addition to those three hits, Redmond only allowed one run (zero earned) and three walks while striking out seven over five innings.
Iacoangeli (1-for-2, one run, one walk) led the Express offense, while Reeder picked up the only Express RBI.
Lakeland jumped out to a 5-0 lead through one and added two more in the second. Reeder's RBI scored Iacoangeli, who had tripled to right field, in the third inning to trim the deficit to six.
After Lakeland added a run in the fourth, Alexandra Ungrady took the first pitch she saw from Turski in the fifth and deposited it over the fence in left center to end the game.
Skylar Lund went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs to led the Lakeland offense, while Szala hit her third home run of the day in the first inning.
Sinay started the game in the circle for the Express before being relieved by Turski midway through the first.
Sinay went one-third of an inning while allowing three hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk, while Turski allowed eight hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk with two strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
Iacoangeli picked up the lone stolen base for the Express.
Notes
Lassey's home run in the first game was her second of the season. Reeder's five RBIs gave her the team lead over Emily Rockman. She now has 19.
Iacoangeli's four steals give her a team-high 22 this year.
The Express are now 13-9 overall and 1-1 in the OCCAC this year, while Lakeland is 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the OCCAC.
After winning seven of eight, the Express have now lost three of their last four.
The next action for the Express will be on Friday at home against Sinclair Community College beginning at 3:30 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the two teams. Sinclair just began their softball program this year.
