LEESBURG, Fla. (Baseball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) baseball team started the week with a tough 13-9 loss at Santa Fe on Monday afternoon. They returned to the Hawk's Nest Wednesday to defeat former Mid-Florida Conference opponent Daytona State 5-4.
Monday, Jan. 30 – Lakehawks 9 (1-1), Santa Fe 13 (4-0)
The Lakehawks took an early lead on the Saints in the first inning with a single by Dannon Smtih and he went on to immediately steal both second and third. Ryan Monaghan scored Smith with a ground ball to first base.
The lead didn't stay long as Santa Fe's first baseman J. Herrholz took one deep to right field to give them a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The Saints offense did not make it easy on the Lakehawk pitching and defense putting up seven more runs in the bottom of the second.
In the third, the Lakehawks chipped away at their lead. Monaghan earned another RBI with a base hit to left field scoring Smith once again.
The Saints answered back scoring three more runs in the third and fourth. Headed into the fifth inning, the Lakehawks trailed 2-12.
The Lakehawks managed to put seven more runs the board by the ninth inning but it was not enough to take the lead from the Saints. The final score was 13-9.
Ryan Monaghan led the Lakehawks going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Nathan Quinn was recorded for the loss moving to 0-1 on the season.
Wednesday, Feb 1 – Lakehawks 5 (2-1), Daytona State 4 (1-2)
Daytona State took an early lead on the Lakehawks in the top of second with a sacrifice fly by Charlie Pellicer to score Sean Sparling after a leadoff single.
The score remained the same until the fourth when the Falcons took the lead 2-0. Sparling, once again, with a leadoff single followed by an RBI single by Jeremy Cardona.
Pitcher Max Windham was able to overcome the opposing momentum, shutting down the offense in a key bases loaded situation for the Flacons.
The Lakehawks answered back in the fourth. Levi Anderson led off with a single to center field and then stole second.
Monaghan came up with a walk and Kendal Spencer loaded the bases with an infield hit. Chris Palmi hit one up the middle into a double play but that didn't stop Anderson from scoring the second run.
The Falcons added two more runs with a homerun to left field by Mike Baumgardner giving them a 4-1 lead.
Good things happen when Smith leads off an inning with a single followed by a stolen base. Monaghan came up next with a double down the right field line to score Smith.
Spencer followed with a perfectly placed double on the right field line to then score Monaghan to bring the Lakehawks within one run of the Falcons until the bottom of the eighth inning.
Smith led off the eighth inning with a hit-by-pitch and stole second a few pitches later. Monaghan came up with a slow roller to third base to record the infield hit.
An unlucky bounce on a dirtball to the catcher allowed Smith to easily score and advance Monaghan to third with freshman Jacob Delano up to bat with two outs and a tied score. Delano delivered with a drive between first and second base allowing Monaghan to score the go-ahead run which ultimately became the game winner.
The Lakehawks move to 2-1 on the season and Daytona State fell to 1-2. Gregory Bori in his first appearance on the mound as a Lakehawk earned the win while Nate Tinder earned the save.
Up next for the Lakehawks
The Lakehawks will be back at The Hawk's Nest on Friday, Feb. 3 at 2:00 p.m. to play Santa Fe once again.
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