Lakehawk Softball Splits with Polk State Walk-Off Style

LEESBURG, Fla. (Softball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) softball team split a double header with Polk State College on Thursday afternoon, including an extra inning thrilling end to game two. Polk State took a back-and-forth game one while the Lakehawks took game two in extra innings.  

Game One – Lake-Sumter 5 (10-9), Polk State 6 (4-5)

Game one was a back-and-forth thriller from the first inning. After Polk State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Lakehawks were able to tie it up in the bottom of the first.

Desiree Romeo and Molly Bender led off with back-to-back walks, then a single from Reese Snipes scored Romeo. Kreighton Steinke then took the lead for Lake-Sumter with a sac fly to center allowing Bender to score their second run.

Polk State tied the game back up in the third but did not manage to take the lead back until the fourth inning. After four, the Eagles led the Lakehawks 4-2.

Offense was quiet for Lake-Sumter until the bottom of the sixth, Darian Pippin reached on an infield base hit to start the rally. Alexis Adams came up next with a big hit to right field allowing Pippin to score, then Adams advanced all the way to third on a mishandled ball by the Polk State defense.

Tatum McGrath laid a perfect squeeze bunt scoring Bella Baez, who was pinch running for Adams, to tie the game up.

McGrath advanced from first to third on wild pitches. Now in scoring position, Romeo grounded out to short allowing McGrath to score and take the lead back 5-4.

With two outs and one last chance in the top of the seventh, Polk State managed to get two runners on by an error and a walk. Eagle pinch hitter Baileigh Herrera entered the game and blasted a two run double to take a 6-5 lead which, ultimately, the Lakehawks could not overcome.

Mia Lovett was the starting pitcher throwing 3.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on five hits and one walk. Pippin pitched the last 3.1 innings of the game and recorded the loss after allowing two runs on one hit, one walk and four strikeouts.

Game Two – Lake-Sumter 7 (11-9), Polk State 6 (4-6)

In game two, was a nail biter from both sides of the fence after the Eagles maintained a 6-0 lead until the sixth inning.

The Lakehawks put together a huge rally in the bottom of the sixth. It started with back-to-back doubles by Bender and Snipes to score one.

Raquel Camuglia came next with a single up the middle to score Snipes. Pippin and Adams both forced infield errors with hard hit balls to bring the Lakehawks within one run of Polk State.

Headed into the bottom of the seventh, Bender sent a line drive to center field and after being mishandled by the fielder managed to score and tie the game up.

In the Texas Tie Breaker, Polk State could not make anything happen with a runner on second opening the door for Lake-Sumter.

With JJ Lott on third with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Adams stepped up with a line drive single to right field scoring Lott for the 6-7 walk-off win.

Elizabeth Auciello pitched the first two innings, where the Eagles scored five runs on seven hits. Kayley Williams entered the game in relief pitching five innings allowing just one more run on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Ali Shenefield recorded the win for the day entering the game in the eighth inning and striking out three Eagle consecutive Eagle batters. With today's win, Shenefield improved to 7-0 on the season.

Up next for the Lakehawks

The Lakehawks will host Oakland Community College on Tuesday, February 28 for a double header at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Live streamed video will be available for those who cannot attend.

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