Photo by Emily Daniels Lakeview’s Tyler Imes delivers a pitch during their game against MACCRAY on Thursday. The Lakers fell to the Wolverines 3-0.

COTTONWOOD – In hopes to find its first win of the season, the Lakeview baseball team found a few good hits but couldn’t extend those to score any runs, as the Lakers fell to MACCRAY 3-0 Thursday.

In the bottom of the first inning with two outs, the Lakers had a chance to get on the board early with a runner on second. Conner Dopp would get a single to move the runner up, but they couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity to score a run, ending the first inning with two runners left on base.

After a 1-2-3 top of the second, the Lakers had another opportunity to create some offense when Jordan Phinney drew a leadoff walk, but Lakeview couldn’t take advantage, and left another runner on base.

The third inning was a big inning for MACCRAY, who broke out the bats and connected on a string of hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Wolverines had more opportunities to create separation with the bases loaded, but the Lakers defense stood strong and got out of the jam to preserve the two-run deficit.

The Wolverines were able to grow their lead even more in the top of the fourth, piecing together enough offense to plate their third run of the game and make it 3-0. Lakeview was able to get another baserunner aboard in the bottom half of the frame, but couldn’t take advantage to push a run across.

The fifth inning saw strong defense from the Lakers, which included getting their first double play of the game that ended the inning. Lakeview’s bats started to come alive in the bottom of the fifth, getting a Noah Jensen double with two outs before Tyler Imes connected on a single to put runners on the corners, but a strikeout would end the inning and keep Lakeview stranded.

Tough defense led to a fast top half of the sixth inning for the Lakers and the Lakers looked to break out the bats and get a run on the board in the bottom half of the frame. Lakeview started things off with a walk from Dopp, followed with a double from Aaron Lienemann, but the Lakers couldn’t make their way home to score any runs.

The Lakers then brought in Lienemann as a new pitcher for the last inning and held the Wolverines to zero runs in the top of the seventh, but Lakeview didn’t find any luck at the plate, going 1-2-3 to end the game to fall by a final score of 3-0.

Jensen led the way offensively for the Lakers with a 2 for 4 day at the plate and a double while Imes, Dopp and Lienemann each added a hit. Imes took the loss on the hill going six innings while allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four.

The Lakers are now 0-5 and will be on the road for their next game on Monday against Yellow Medicine East.

MACCRAY 3, Lakeview 0

MACCRAY 002 100 0 — 3 7 0

Lakeview 000 000 0 — 0 5 5

HITTING: Lakeview (Jensen 2-4, 2B; Imes 1-4; Dopp 1-2; Lienemann 1-3).

PITCHING: Imes (Imes 6-7-3-1-4-4)