Lakeland's home opener didn't go as planned as it ran into a very good Novi team on Friday afternoon.

In the opener, Lakeland faced off against Novi's South Carolina commit Reganne Bennett.  Bennett was as advertised taking a perfect game into the sixth before Kellie Mueller's bunt single.  Lakeland was able to load the bases in the seventh.  Brynn Taliercio bunted and reached on an error, Nathalie Hagle walked and following a strike out, Paige Ambler had a bunt single.  That is as far as the Eagles would go as Bennett struck out the final two batters.  Ambler went the distance for Lakeland, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) and striking out 6.  Final score Novi 6 Lakeland 0.

In game two, Haley Stein pitched for the Eagles but didn't get much support at the plate or in the field.  Lakeland committed 5 errors and missed a number of opportunities at the plate to drive in runs.  Lakeland put up 7 hits, Mueller and Parker Ostach each had two hits.  Ambler, Emily Dostal, and Madison Borders each had one hit.  Dostal drove in Lakeland's lone run.  Stein went 6 innings, giving up 7 runs (2 earned) and striking out 3. Ambler came on in relief in the 7th.  Final Score Novi 7 Lakeland 1.

Lakeland's next game is away versus Detroit Country Day.  Date TBD (either Wednesday or Thursday).