LEESBURG, Fla. (Baseball) – No. 18 Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) baseball traveled to Seminole State College on Monday evening for a single game. The Lakehawks fell to the Raiders 7-6 in a close back-and-forth matchup.

Tad Brooks and Camden Williamson led off the top of the second inning with a pair of singles. Tanner Reid followed with a single up the middle to score Brooks, Lake-Sumter taking the lead 1-0.

The Lakehawks added another run in the top of the fifth after Andrew Merchant reached on an error and advanced all the way to third on the overthrow. Chris Palmi stepped up with a double to left field, allowing Merchant to score and extending the lead 2-0.

The Raiders put one on the board in the bottom of the fifth, still trailing the Lakehawks 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, Matthew Dumas reached on another error by the Raider third baseman and stole second before a single from Elvin Figueroa advanced him to third base. Then, a hit from Williamson to centerfield scored Dumas from third.

Seminole State added a run in the bottom of the seventh before taking the lead 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

In the Lakehawks' last chance at bat in the top of the ninth, Figueroa led off with a single to start an offensive charge.

Eli Thurmond entered the game to pinch run for Figueroa. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Brooks and Ean Gimson both drew walks to load the bases. An overthrow on pinch hit from Edwin Melendez allowed Thurmond to score the first run of the inning.

Reid scored Gimson from third after drawing a hit by pitch. Then, Ryan Jenkins tied up the game at 6-6 with a single to left field keeping the game alive.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Raiders loaded the bases and walked off the game with a sacrifice fly to left field defeating the Lakehawks 7-6.

Started pitcher Rodney Sesler threw five innings. He allowed just one run on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts.

Trey Clinton pitched 2.1 innings, allowing five runs to score on four hits. Bryan Burtoft recorded the loss on the mound, allowing one run on one hit with one walk.

The Lakehawks move to a 23-18-1 record, while the Raiders improve to a 21-22 record.  

Up next for the Lakehawks

Lakehawk Baseball will play non-conference opponent College of Central Florida in Ocala, Fla. on Tuesday, Apr. 9 at 3:00 p.m.

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