Leesburg, Fla. – After a rainout on Tuesday, the Lake-Sumter State College softball team was set up for a tough stretch of six games in four days with their season hanging in the balance.
The 96 hour softball fest started Thursday at home against St. John's River State College. After falling behind 4-0 in the top of the third, LSSC responded with a four run bottom half to tie it up 4-4. In the bottom of the next inning the Lakehawks managed another four spot on the scoreboard and were able to hold the lead for an 8-4 victory. Allie Geier earned her ninth win of the season in relief going five innings allowing just one hit.
Game two was an offensive display by Lake-Sumter who knocked 15 hits, resulting in 11 runs scored and a run rule victory, 11-3, in six innings. Jennifer Bryant added her third home run of the season driving in three runs on the day. Taylor Turner was 4 for 5 on the day with three walks and five runs scored. The sophomore became the program's all-time walks leader in the process. Abbey Primavera earned the win from the circle.
Games three and four were on the road in Jacksonville. A one out double off the wall by Nini Underwood in the top of the first plated Turner from first base to put her team up 1-0 early. Geier was in the circle and dealt from the first inning on. The lefty allowed just three hits and one earned run over seven innings. Taylor Dotson gave her team some breathing room in the sixth with a two run home run. The team would add one more in the inning as they took game one with a final score of 4-1. Geier went the distance for the complete game victory.
Dotson again led the offensive charge in game two with a three hit performance including her second home run on the day to drive in a total of four RBI's. Abbey Primavera tossed the first four innings of the ball game before giving way to Brandi Davis. Davis was nasty out of the bullpen allowing just one base runner over three innings of work to earn the save. Primavera got the win, 5-2, making her and Geier the first pitching duo in program history to reach 10+ wins in the same season.
The final two games were again on the road. This time in Gainesville against Santa Fe College. Geier again took the circle in game one. Heading into the seventh, the Lakehawks held a 4-0 lead with Geier still dealing on a one hit shutout. The grind of the past few days had finally caught up to the lefty who exited the game with one out and bases loaded and her team clinging to a 4-2 lead. The Saints were able to bring around three runs in the inning to complete the comeback, 5-4, over the Lakehawks.
Game two of the double header against the Saints had LSSC up early 2-0. SF tied things up in the fourth before Lake-Sumter regained the lead an inning later, 3-2. The Lakehawks were able to create separation with a four run sixth inning capped off by a two out, two RBI single off the bat of Karsyn Connell to put her team 7-2. It was Davis again coming out of the bullpen that sealed the deal. The righty tossed the final three innings of the game going nine up, nine down to record her fourth save of the year. Primavera picked up her third win in the team's six game stretch on the week.
The Lakehawks are now 26-28 on the year and 9-13 in conference play. Their next contest will take place Saturday against Central Florida at home for Sophomore Day. Game time is set for one pm. Sophomore Day festivities will begin at roughly around 12:15.