Leesburg, Fla. – The Lake-Sumter State College baseball team came out swinging against St. Pete College last week and continued the momentum into the weekend.
An offensive led game to begin with, the Lakehawks continued to score runs in the first five innings holding a 6-0 lead over St. Pete College. In the bottom half of the seventh, patience paid off for LSSC with five walks and five runs scored. They were not done yet, coming around to plate six more runs in the next inning. The Titans could only scamper across four runs in the ball game with Lake-Sumter winning, 17-4.
Fletcher Byrd was the starting pitcher going seven innings, allowing just four base runners while striking out four and is now 1-1 on the season. Maurice James and Seth Martin both tallied multi-hit performances on offense while Robbie Scott drove in a season high, four RBIs.
Friday marked game two of the series between LSSC and St. Pete. If you like high scoring, back and forth baseball, this was the game for you. The teams combined for 30 hits and 25 runs scored in the 10 inning contest.
Trailing four in the top of the ninth, the Lakehawks were down to their final three outs. Tanner Clark got his team within two on a one out, two RBI single through the infield. An RBI single from Brody Rubenstein, followed by Angel Padilla scoring on a passed ball knotted the game up at 10-10.
A scoreless bottom of the ninth for the Titans sent the game into extra innings. Alan Alonso brought around Martin on a triple to start off the 10th. Alonso would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from Jarrett Backus to go up 12-10. Three hits and one walk led to a three run walk off win for St. Pete, 13-12, in the bottom half of the inning.
Alonso had an incredible day at the plate going 4 for 4, falling a home run shy of the cycle. He also collected two walks in the contest. Nick Labrada was tagged in the loss moving his record to 1-2.
Next on the schedule was the second meeting against Warner University. The bats stayed hot for the Lakehawks with 11 hits and eight runs scored. The Royals plated three runs in the third and two more in the ninth.
Andrew Miele picked up his first win of the season going 6 2/3 innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out six. Alonso continued to swing the bat well collecting two more hits and three RBIs. Collin Teegarden boasted two hits of his own and scored twice in the contest.
The Lakehawks returned home Monday to host Community College of Baltimore County – Catonsville (MD). A tightly contested pitcher's duel controlled the game through the first five innings of play. Cameron Recny went 5 1/3 strong innings, striking out seven. He was pulled after allowing three runs in the sixth inning to the Cardinals.
Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the sixth, LSSC plated five runs on two hits while taking advantage of a couple CCBC miscues.
Three more runs over the next two innings for Lake-Sumter, along with stellar relief pitching from Colby Woodward, gave them the 8-4 victory. Alonso added three more RBIs to his season total with a home run.
The Hawks Nest will be buzzing with activity Saturday with the Lake-Sumter baseball and softball teams returning home. Baseball will take on Inspiration Academy beginning at 1 pm.