After starting the season with 13 non-conference games, the Lakeland baseball team opened up conference play in style. The Muskies mercy ruled Maranatha Baptist Bible College in seven innings both games of a doubleheader Saturday.

The Muskies won the first game 10-0 and the second game 12-2.

Derek Loomans started the first game, pitching a 7-hit shutout with 4 strikeouts. This performance improved his record on the season to 4-0 with a 1.05 ERA.

The offense started slow for the Muskies, scoring only three runs through the first three innings, but then exploded for eight runs in the last four.

Mike Ruzek capped off the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single. Ruzek also hit his first career home run in the fourth inning.

Andy Chitwood took the mound for the Muskies in the second game, pitching all seven innings, allowing only 5 hits and 2 runs. Chitwood also improved his record on the season to 4-0, lowering his ERA to 2.96.

Once again it took the Muskies a while to get going before they broke out in the fifth, scoring seven runs.

The rally was led by Charlie Sparrow, who led off with a drag bunt, forcing an error that would advance him to third base.

“I decided to lay one down, just trying to get on base and get something started for the team,” Sparrow said.

Six other Muskies also recorded RBI’s in the inning.

Garrett Morris would then finish the game with a 2-run single in the seventh, giving the Muskies the ten-run lead needed to necessitate the mercy rule.

Lakeland looks to carry the momentum against Marian University for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m this Sunday, April 1.