Ninth Inning Heroics Give LSSC Win Against SPC

Leesburg, Fla. – The Lake-Sumter State College baseball team finished their most recent four game stretch with a 2-1-1 record.

It is rare in this day and age to play to a tie, let alone a double digit tie. That is exactly what happened last Wednesday when the Lakehawks traveled to Indian River State College. Trailing 9-5 in the top of the ninth, Lake-Sumter needed to hit and hit a lot to get back in the ball game. They did just that. The Lakehawks plated five runners on five hits and a walk to take a one run lead. Robbie Scott had the big hit of the inning with a bases loaded triple to center field. IRSC was able to get one run back to tie it up 10-10 when the game was called due to darkness.

A two game series with St. Pete College was next on the schedule for the Lakehawks. Friday's contest was a back and forth battle through the first six innings with Lake-Sumter holding onto a 5-4 lead. Cameron Recny posted an excellent start on the bump for the Lakehawks. The lefty was removed with one out in the sixth inning after giving up two runs with two strikeouts. He would not factor into the final decision as the Titans came back with a six run bottom of the seventh. Andrew Miele took the loss in the 13-6 defeat.

Saturday marked game two of the series. This one on the Lake-Sumter campus. St. Pete College managed one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth. By the bottom of the ninth, the Titans held a 5-1 lead and had kept the Lakehawks bats at bay for eight straight innings. With one out on the board, LSSC went to work. Back to back singles put ducks on the pond. A second out hit the scoreboard putting LSSC's back fully against the wall. A third single loaded the bases for Kobie Leonard who manufactured a walk to bring a run in. Brody Rubenstein reached on an error to plate a second run in the inning. Then, Jarrett Backus came to the plate. The lefty swinger roped a triple down the left field line scoring all three runners to give his team the walk-off victory, 6-5.

LTD Academy Post Grad made the trip over to Leesburg for a one game contest Monday. The bats came out early and never left with LSSC totaling 20 runs on 13 hits. Alan Alonso, Johziel Serrano along with Scott and Backus all collected multi-hit performances. Brody Rubenstein went 1 for 4, driving in four RBI's in the process. Matt Coles earned the win after tossing six innings and striking out nine.

The Lakehawks move to 5-6-1 on the season. Due to inclement weather, the game against Indian River has moved from Wednesday to Thursday and will start at 3 pm.