By Patrick Gordon/Lakeland Sports Information

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Lakeland Community College softball team began the 2014 campaign on the right note with a two-game sweep of visiting Butler County Community College at Cleveland State University's Krenzler Field Thursday afternoon.  The wins mark the first two for head coach Jeff Morganti, who took over at the helm in the fall and will look to guide the Lakers back to the District H Tournament in May.

Game One: Lakeland 11, Butler County Community College 3 (5 Innings)

The Lakers jumped out to an early 6-0 lead through the first inning and never looked back, tacking on five runs over the final two innings to run-rule the Pioneers in five. 

Sophomore catcher Chantel Smithberger (Madison, Ohio / Madison) was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs while freshman Rebecca Svoboda (Sagamore Hills, Ohio / Nordonia) collected three hits and scored a run in the victory.

Sophomore Rachel Martin (Painesville, Ohio / Riverside) set a career high with two triples while driving in a pair of runs for Lakeland. 

All nine batters score at least one run as the Lakers hit .435 (10-for-23) from the plate in their season opener.

Freshman pitcher Michelle Mystic (Cleveland, Ohio / North Royalton) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out a pair to earn her first collegiate win.

Game Two: Butler County Community College 8, Lakeland 9

Courtney Sabo (Parma, Ohio / Parma) hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to give Lakeland a 6-5 lead it would never relinquish in game two.  The Lakers tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth for a necessary cushion before holding off a late charge from the Pioneers in the bottom of the seventh. 

Svoboda and Sabo combined for five RBIs, five hits, and four runs scored in the victory. 

Butler County plated three runs in the bottom of the first for an early lead before Lakeland responded with a four-run third inning to gain the lead.  Martin led off the inning with a double to center before freshman Audrey Harris(Cleveland, Ohio / Cleveland Heights) collected her first collegiate RBI with a run scoring single through the right side.  Svoboda and Sabo kept the two out rally alive with back-to-back triples followed by Smithberger's RBI single to left to give LCC a 4-3 advantage. 

The Pioneers answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning before Sabo's fifth inning homer put the Lakers in front for good.

Mystic struck out six in her second start in as many games to earn the victory.  The freshman right hander allowed eight runs (six earned) while striking out a career-high six.

Lakeland returns to action on Friday (March 14) when it plays host to Region XII foe Alpena (Mich.) Community College at Cleveland State University.