DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Baseball) – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) baseball traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla. on Saturday to play Daytona State College in a non-conference matchup. The Lakehawks fell to the Falcons in a close 3-1 final.

The score remained tied at 0-0 for the first five innings until Daytona State got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. The Falcons manufactured a 1-0 lead on a pair of singles and stolen base.

The Falcons tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff walk extending their lead to 3-0.

In the top of the ninth inning, the Lakehawks tried to battle back from a 3-0 deficit. After a leadoff double from Andrew Merchant, Chris Palmi recorded the RBI with a single up the middle.

Unfortunately, with bases loaded, the Lakehawks were unable to get more runs across the plate to take the lead from the Falcons.

Lake-Sumter combined for nine hits as a team. Merchant, Tad Brooks, and Edwin Melendez all went 2-for-4. Palmi, Ryan Jenkins, and Tanner Reid had one hit each.

Five Lakehawks saw time on the mound against Daytona State. Starter Nathan Quinn threw four scoreless innings allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.

Larson McMaster recorded the loss on the mound after allowing one run on three hits and three walks. Gregory Bori contributed 1.1 innings of work on the mound, recording three strikeouts.

The Lakehawks move to a 1-5-1 record on the season while the Falcons improved to 5-2.

Up next for the Lakehawks

The Lakehawks will travel St. Pete, Fla. on Monday, January 5 to play St. Petersburg College at 5:00 p.m.

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