LEESBURG, Fla. (Baseball) – No. 20 Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) baseball continued Sun-Lakes Conference play over the weekend against South Florida State College (SFSC). Lake-Sumter took two out of three games from the Panthers to clinch the series.
Game One – Lake-Sumter 2, SFSC 12 (5 innings)
The Panthers took a 9-0 lead after two innings. They added one with a solo homerun in the bottom of the third to extend their lead 10-0.
With the threat of ending early due to mercy rule, Elvin Figueroa hit a two-run homerun in the top of the fourth to keep the Lakehawks in the game.
South Florida answered back with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth to secure the mercy rule win.
Tyler Toro recorded the loss on the mound with 3.2 innings pitched. He allowed 12 runs on eight hits.
Bryan Burtoft took the mound in the bottom of the fourth to record the final out of the inning.
Game Two – Lake-Sumter 10, SFSC 9
South Florida tried to keep the momentum going from game one by taking an early lead, but the Lakehawk offense came alive in game two.
With the bases loaded in the top of the second, Ryan Jenkins and Andrew Merchant were both hit by pitches to take the lead 2-1.
Edwin Melendez led off the top of the third with a solo homerun, the start of a five-run rally.
With Camden Williamson and Jacob Delano on base, Luke Bentley and Jenkins had back-to-back hits to score both.
Matthew Dumas came up next with a walk to load the bases for Merchant. Merchant followed with a single to extend the Lakehawk lead 7-1.
In the top of the fourth, Williamson and Tad Brooks each reached with singles to move into scoring position. Then, Delano stepped up with a sacrifice fly to score Williamson from third.
The Panthers put four runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but still trailed the Lakehawks 8-6.
In the top of the sixth, Lake-Sumter loaded the bases. Delano recorded another sac fly and Bentley placed a sac bunt to extend their lead 10-6.
South Florida scored three in the bottom of the seventh, but was not enough to overcome the Lakehawk lead.
Preston James was the starting pitcher on the mound for game two. He threw 4.2 innings allowing one earned run on three hits with six strikeouts.
Cristian Montes recorded his first win on the mound after pitching the fifth inning. In five batters faced, he allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout.
Gregory Bori recorded the save with 1.2 innings of work after entering the game in the eighth. He faced seven batters and fanned one.
Game Three – Lake-Sumter 8, SFSC 3
The Lakehawks clinched the series in the finale with an 8-3 win over the Panthers.
Lake-Sumter took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second after Figueroa led the inning off with a single. Melendez came up next with a double and Williamson loaded the bases with a walk.
Brooks hit a ball up the middle into a double play, but allowed Figueroa to score from third and Melendez to advance. Melendez was then able to score on the next pitch on a pass ball from the Panther catcher.
Bentley led off the bottom of the third with a single and advanced to third on a single from Jenkins. Merchant scored Bentley from third base with a hit to left field.
The Panthers scored two in the top of the sixth before the Lakehawks extended their lead 8-2 in the bottom half of the frame. They added one more run in the seventh, but ultimately could not make a comeback making an 8-3 win for the Lakehawks.
Lake-Sumter took two of three in this series. For the season, the Lakehawks and the Panthers split their six meetings 3-3.
Larson McMaster improved to a 3-3 record on the mound with 6.0 innings pitched. He allowed just one earned run on eight hits with five strikeouts.
Montes started the seventh inning, but got into a bases loaded situation that Burtoft was able to work out of.
Burtoft took the mound with bases loaded and no outs. He recorded a fielder's choice out a home plate and forced two popups to get out of the defensive jam.
Bori pitched the final two scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit with four strikeouts.
The Lakehawks improved to 23-17-1 overall, 12-8 in Sun-Lakes Conference play. With two wins over SFSC, Lake-Sumter moved into first in conference standing.
Up next for the Lakehawks
Lakehawk Baseball will play non-conference opponent Seminole State College in Sanford, Fla. on Monday, Apr. 8 at 6:00 p.m.
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