Leesburg, Fla. – After suffering a loss to Hillsborough Community College, the Lake-Sumter State College baseball team has turned out three straight victories in the past week.
Jake Janata took the hill for the Lakehawks against HCC last Wednesday. The freshman posted another good outing going 6.1 innings allowing three earned runs while striking out four. Janata was pulled in the seventh with his team trailing 4-1. The Hawks were able to break through in the seventh, eighth and ninth while keeping LSSC scoreless over that time. HCC took the game by a final score of 9-1.
Lake-Sumter hit the road to take on Polk State Friday. A slow start to the contest with single runs trickling in had the game knotted up at 2-2 after the first four innings. Polk had two runners cross home plate in the bottom of the fifth, but it was inning six and seven where the LSSC bats unloaded. The Lakehawks scored five runs on five hits over those two innings to jump out in front, 7-4. Matt Cobb was able to come out of the bullpen for the final two innings allowing just one base runner and collecting three strikeouts in his first save of the year. Parker Grahe earned the win.
In the biggest offensive output of the season, the Lakehawks shelled out 20 runs on 17 hits to beat Inspiration Academy Post Grad, 20-5. Robbie Scott had a day for the ages going 5 for 6 with a home run, two doubles and two singles. The sophomore also drove in four runs while scoring four times himself. Seth Martin had the long ball going, crushing two home runs on the day and bringing around six RBI's. Johziel Serrano and Gabriel Dorsey also got to trot around the bases collecting nine RBI's combined on the day. Andrew Miele earned his first win from the rubber in the team's victory.
One more win makes it a winning streak and that's just what LSSC did against Rollins JV Monday. The Tars held a 2-0 lead going into the seventh inning before Jarrett Backus came to the plate. People attend baseball games knowing that every time they come to the ball park, they may see something they have never seen before. Backus provided everyone in attendance with that very moment. With bases loaded, the third baseman drove a ball to deep centerfield, which got lost in the lights by the outfielder. The ball hit the ground allowing every runner to score, including Backus, for the extremely rare inside-the-park grand slam. Holding onto a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth, Backus and Martin were able to drive in two more insurance runs to help their team to the 6-3 win. Matt Coles was stellar on the mound taking his start into the eighth inning, giving up just two earned runs and collecting three strikeouts in the victory.
The Lakehawks (10-10-1) will welcome in Kalamazoo (MI) Valley Community College Friday for a single nine inning contest. First pitch is slated for 2 pm.