Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 4/3/03 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Joel Nisleit Sophomore pitcher Steve Plucinski (#5) packs heat to the plate in a game against Marian.

The men's baseball team began with a rocky start to their conference schedule on March 26 at home against Marian College.

Marian, 3-5 overall at game time, faced sophomore pitcher Steve Plucinski. Lakeland, got off to a quick start with a five run first inning that included four Muskie hits and two batters hit by pitches. However, with big gains in the eighth and ninth by Marian, the Muskies were looking at a tie ball game going into the bottom of ninth.

Lakeland, going three up and three down, sent the game into extra innings. Senior Ryan Govek was now pitching for the Muskies as Marian's second batter singled and ended up scoring after stealing and an error.

Down by one, the Muskies singled to get on base as well, but failed to score resulting in a 2-1 Marian win. Head coach John Weber said of the game, "It was frustrating because we gift-wrapped the win for them. We gave away the game. Our defense let us down and our offense sputtered in the second half. We wasted a good pitching performance by Plucinski."

Lakeland then traveled west to play at Marian in a double header on March 31. Again, Plucinski received the start and went on to pitch the entire game. Senior outfielder Mike Stoeckigt got things going offensively in the second inning with a leadoff triple to right center field. Fellow senior Aaron Gustman singled to center scoring Stoeckigt. However, Gustman never crossed home plate similar to the nine other runners for Lakeland that were left on base that day. Also, this was the only inning Lakeland scored in.

Again, the Muskies found themselves tied, this time 1-1, going into the ninth. One hit, one out, and a double play sent Lakeland on the defensive and despite the effort by Plucinski, who struck out seven overall, he received the loss as the scoreboard showed 2-1 in favor of Marian after the bottom of the ninth.

Weber stated, "This was similar to the last game where we wasted our pitching performance. Our errors cost us, but what hurt more than anything was our inability to hit the ball with runners in scoring position, which we had plenty of opportunities to do."

With temperatures near freezing and a slight drizzle, the second game went on as scheduled. Govek took to the mound. The men came out swinging which led to a huge first three innings, putting Lakeland on top 8-2. Nearly every player got on base with senior catcher Justin Wolter blasting a homer to left field, scoring three in the second followed by freshman infielder Mitch Heinemeyer, who knocked one over the wall and also scoring three in the third.

"Wolter and Heinemeyer stepped up with clutch hits," said Weber. The weather, however, just would not cooperate and the game was called after five innings posting a Muskie victory by a score of 9-2. Govek received the win pushing his record to 2-2. "Govek set the tone from the hill. It was important for us to get a win in Wisconsin," Weber said.

The Muskies, who post a 6-7 record that's identical to last year at this time, will be in action at home Friday, April 4 against Edgewood starting at 3 p.m.

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