Lakehawks Split Series with Hillsborough

Leesburg, Fla. – The Lake-Sumter State College baseball team headed south to Tampa on Wednesday to take on Hillsborough Community College for game one of a two game series.

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, the Lakehawks knotted the game up in the third with a bases loaded walk by Tanner Clark to bring in Collin Teegarden. HCC plated two runs of their own in the bottom half before LSSC battled back once again.

In the top of the fourth, Lake-Sumter knocked in two runs scoring Brody Rubenstein and Dylan Droke. The game continued to go back and forth with HCC adding two more in the bottom of the sixth, before LSSC took their first lead of the game with a three run seventh inning.

The Hawks managed to bring in one to knot the game up for the third time, at 6-6. In the bottom of the eighth, Hillsborough brought in three runs and held LSSC scoreless in the top of the ninth to claim the 9-6 victory.

Teegarden went 2 for 3 with two walks while Droke drove in three RBIs in a losing effort. Nick Labrada (1-3) was tagged with the loss.

Inspiration Academy Post Grad arrived at the Hawks Nest Saturday to take on the Lakehawks. Inspiration grabbed an early three run lead after the top of the first inning. Spencer Taylor put his team on the board in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly to bring in Maurice James from third.

IAPG brought in one more run in the fourth before their offense was shut down the rest of the game. LSSC managed one run in the bottom of the seventh and in the eighth, getting within one run, trailing 4-3.

Down to their final three outs, Rubenstein led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo blast to tie it up, 4-4. Angel Padilla would eventually drive in Alan Alonso on a single to the outfield for the walk-off, 5-4 victory.

Rubenstein and Padilla combined for four hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Andrew Miele moves his record to 2-1 after picking up the win throwing a clean top of the ninth.

The final game of the week was a rematch with HCC. A huge second inning put the Lakehawks out in front early in the ball game. Seven hits and two errors by the Hillsborough defense led to five runs and a comfortable lead for the pitching staff.

Fletcher Byrd got the start on the mound for LSSC and went four strong innings while striking out five. Byrd did not factor into the final decision after being pulled after the fourth inning.

Up 5-2 in the fifth, the Lake-Sumter offense struck again with two runs off the bat of Rubenstein who tripled down the right field line. It was the insurance runs LSSC needed. Xavier Rodriguez tossed the next five innings giving up just one run on two hits. Rodriguez struck out four batters on his way to collecting win number one on the season in the 8-3 victory.

Teegarden, Rubenstein and Padilla all had two hit performances at the plate. Padilla deposited his first home run of the season in the eighth inning over the right field fence.

Lake-Sumter has been on a roll as of late, winning 4 of their last 5 contests. Next up on the schedule is Pasco-Hernando on the road Wednesday beginning at 3 pm.