The Lakeland College baseball team was swept by Northern Athletics Conference foe Marian University in their first true road game on Sunday afternoon.
The Muskies (11-6, 2-2 NAC) couldn't muster any offense in game one, a 7-1 defeat and couldn't hold the lead in game two, falling 11-7.
Lakeland sent fifth-year senior and staff ace Mike Ruzek (2-1, 2.45 ERA) to the hill for game one. The Manitowoc, Wis., native pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Ruzek was effective for four innings, allowing just two hits, before tiring in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing four runs on five hits.
Sophomore Matt Weller (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, while walking three.
The Muskies had no answer for Sabres senior right-hander Jesse Blum, who allowed just one unearned run on three hits. Lakeland's lone run came in the fifth inning when Ryan Boettcher (Bonduel, Wis.) doubled home Tim Kuchenbecker (Brillion, Wis.) who reached on an error by the shortstop.
The Muskies struggled to get any momentum in the game with Ruzek, Boettcher and Jess Nickel (Waupun, Wis.) accounting for Lakeland's three hits.
In game two, Lakeland sent senior right-hander Garrett Morris to the hill. The Janesville, Wis., native pitched four innings, allowing five runs on five hits, while striking out three, although he did not factor in the decision.
Freshman Trent Schwalbach (Escanaba, Mich.) suffered his second loss on the season, pitching 1 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits with two walks. Junior right-hander David Cherney (Green Bay, Wis.) stopped the bleeding, pitching the final 2 2/3 innings allowing just four hits.
Trailing 5-1 entering the top of the fifth, the Muskies finally broke through, scoring five runs on four hits.
Back-to-back bases loaded walks brought Lakeland to within two and an Andrew Tague RBI single brought Lakeland to within one. Nickel would deliver the big hit; a bases-loaded two-run single to center to give the Muskies a 6-5 lead.
Tague delivered again in the sixth with an RBI single, after Ruzek was hit by a pitch and Boettcher reached on a throwing error. The 7-5 lead would be short lived as the Sabres scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth, taking an 11-7 lead that they would not relinquish.
Tague stole the show, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Nickel added two hits and three RBIs. It wasn't quite enough to beat the Sabres.
Lakeland returns to the field on Saturday, April 7, as the Muskies host the Northern Athletics Conference leading Spartans of Aurora University for a nine inning doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.