The Dominican University softball team dropped a doubleheader for just the second time all season, falling to the Lakeland College Muskies 11-10 and 8-4 on Monday afternoon in Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) action. The losses drop the Stars to 18-10 overall and 10-6 in the NAC after opening conference play with wins in their first eight contests.

In game one against the Muskies, the Stars, after scoring three in the top of the first, surrendered nine runs as Lakeland sent 12 hitters to the plate.

The Stars chipped away at the lead, plating two runs in the fourth and then pushed across four runs in the top of the fifth, with the big blow a two-run double by Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill.). The Stars then got a run in the sixth to tie the game at 10-10 as Andrea Pinarski (Goshen, Ind.) led off with a double. Kristen Look (Frankfort, Ill.) then pushed Pinarski to third on a single and Pinarski then scored on a sacrifice fly by Gina Palumbo (Northlake, Ill.).

However, the Muskies got the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as a leadoff double led to a sacrifice fly to end the game.

Cary Thereon (South Elgin, Ill.) took the loss, hurling five innings and allowing two runs on three hits and one walk.

Game two followed similar fashion as the Muskies pushed across four runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back.

Cicale took the loss in the circle for the Stars, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks. The Stars’ right-hander did strikeout five but gave up four doubles and a home run. Cicale falls to 10-4 on the season.

The Stars were scheduled to return to play on Tuesday at Alverno but that doubleheader was postponed and rescheduled for Wednesday, April 20. First pitch is slated for 3:15 PM at Alverno Field.