PALATKA, Fla. (Baseball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) baseball team hosted Sun-Lakes Conference opponent No. 10 St. Johns River State College (SJRSC) on Friday for game one of the three game series, then traveled to Palatka, Fla. on Saturday for the double header conclusion. The Vikings took all three games, but the Lakehawks kept the games close.

Game One – Lake-Sumter 4, SJRSC 9

The series got off to an exciting start after a back-and-forth game one at The HawksNest on Friday afternoon. The Vikings took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first that stuck until the fifth when the Lakehawks tied the game.

Lake-Sumter took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth with heads up baserunning by Dannon Smith and Nate Tinder. In a first and third situation, the two were able to outsmart the Viking defense and get the leading run across the plate.

Unfortunately for the Lakehawks, the lead did not stick long. SJRSC scored the tying run in the top of the seventh and then added five more runs in the eighth to take game one.

The Lakehawks had 10 hits for the day. Levi Anderson was 3-for-5 with one RBI while Kendal Spencer was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.

Five Lakehawk pitchers saw the mound in game one. Tyler Toro pitched six innings, holding the Viking offense to just one run on four hits with one strikeout.

Robert Tracy recorded the loss after allowing five runs on three hits. Tracy is now 0-1 on the season.

Game Two – Lake-Sumter 5, SJRSC 6

The Lakehawks faced a difficult loss in game two after being in control of the scoreboard for the majority of the game. Lake-Sumter took a four-run lead out of the gate in the top of the first inning.

The Vikings chipped away at the lead, adding runs in the second, fourth and sixth, but the Lakehawks still led 5-3 headed into the seventh inning.

SJRSC strung together two hits while capitalizing on a Lakehawk error to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Seven Lakehawks recorded hits in game two of the series. Chris Palmi and Smith each had two RBIs, Carson Russell had one.

Starting pitcher Max Windham earned no decision after throwing 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits and three strikeouts. Tinder entered to close the game and recorded the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and one strikeout.

Game Three – Lake-Sumter 7, SJRSC 15

Game three was close for the majority of the game. SJRSC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third and the Lakehawks put three up in the top of the fourth.

Lake-Sumter rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth and added one more in the top of the seventh.

The Vikings responded with four runs in the bottom half of the frame and the scoring did not stop after that. They added five in the fifth, one in the sixth and four more in the seventh.

The Lakehawks had nine hits in game three. Levi Anderson was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Palmi was 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk.  

The Vikings took game three by mercy rule. The Lakehawks move to 9-17 overall, 3-6 in conference play while the Vikings improved to 22-8 overall, 7-2 in conference play.

Up next for the Lakehawks

Lakehawk baseball will host Webber JV on Wednesday, March 15 at 3:00 p.m. Live stream video and stats will be available to those who cannot attend. 

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