CLERMONT, Fla. - Lake Superior State softball opened their third day at the Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. with an 11-5 loss against Lewis University on Friday. The Lakers (3-6) fought back from a three run deficit after the first three innings to tie the game 3-3 in the fourth inning but could not keep up with back-to-back four-run innings by the Flyers (8-7) to close the contest.
Frankie Castagna opened the scoring with a two-run home run, plating Jessica Lofthouse in the bottom of the second inning. The Flyers added their third run in the third inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Jenna Cairo and extending the Lewis lead to 3-0.
The Lakers responded in the top of the fourth inning with a two-out single to right field to score Teryn Williams and put the Lakers on the board. Following consecutive walks by Kylie Durre and Katie Martin the Lakers had the bases loaded. The next batter, starting pitcher Alyssa Thayer (L, 1-4), singled in Banchiu and Durre to help her cause and tie the game at three runs each.
LSSU took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Emily Estep scored on a wild pitch. Williams advanced to third base on the passed ball.
With two outs and leading by a run, Banchiu picked up her team-leading 11th RBI of the season with another single to score Williams. The Lakers took a 5-3 lead into the field for the bottom half of the fifth inning.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth and the Lakers clinging to a 5-3 lead, Castagna delivered her second homer of the ballgame, a grand slam, to put the Flyers up 7-5.
Castagna and the Flyers added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach. A double for Castagna in her fourth at-bat plated Lofthouse for her seventh RBI of the game.
The Lakers finished with eight hits in 27 at-bats and left six runners on base, while Lewis tallied 10 hits in 27 at-bats, picked up five walks and stranded five runners.
Results for the Lakers second game of the evening against Wheeling Jesuit will be posted when available.