March 8, 2008

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Lake Superior State bounced back from a heart-breaking 5-4 loss to Bellarmine with a big seventh-inning rally against 22nd-ranked LeMoyne on Friday at the Rebel Spring Games.

LSSU (4-10) scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat LeMoye 7-3. Junior Nikki Christensen moved from designated hitter to pitcher with two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning and got the Lakers out of a game-deciding jam.

In the top of the seventh, April Brandt singled with bases loaded and one out and tied the game, 3-3. Christensen came up next and slammed a three-run triple for a 6-3 Laker lead. Amber Kern added a one-run single before the inning ended.

Christensen retired two of three batters in the bottom of the seventh. She walked the second batter, who was eventually thrown out at third base by Laker catcher Nichole Dunford.

LeMoyne (5-5) out-hit LSSU, 9-5, but Lake Superior State strung its hits together at the right time. Dunford and Chelsea Maynard also had hits for the Lakers. LSSU starting pitcher Claire Ostrowski gave up three runs on three hits in the first inning and was relieved by Stephanie Reveley, who tossed 5.2 shutout innings and totaled three walks and one strikeout.

Christensen also suffered the loss against Bellarmine (4-12). She went the distance, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and four strikeouts. She issued no walks.

April Brandt was 2-for-3 with one RBI, and Rachel Hall, Dunford, Katie Brandt, Erin Hulett and Helena Zandarski had one hit each.

The Lakers play Indianapolis at 11 a.m. and West Virginia Wesleyan at 3 p.m. Saturday.