CLEARWATER, Fla. (Softball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) softball team traveled down to Clearwater, Fla. on Saturday for two games at the annual JUCO Classic hosted at Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. The Lakehawks faced National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA) Division I opponents from the nationally ranked College of Central Florida (CF) and Eastern Florida State College (EFSC).
Game 1 – Lake-Sumter 0 (2-1), No. 12 College of Central Florida 10 (2-1)
Starting short stop Reese Snipes led off the first inning with a line drive single to center field but the Lakehawks could not make anything of it. CF took an early lead in the bottom of first inning scoring nine runs off of five hits, including a three-run homerun by CF's Gianna Guerriero and three errors by the Lakehawk defense.
Starting pitcher Elizabeth Auciello was relieved by Kayley Williams. Williams managed to shut down the Patriots for the last two outs of the first inning.
In the top of the third, Darrian Pippin drove a two-out single to left field but Snipes was retired the next at bat.
Williams held the Patriots to just one more run on a solo homerun by Katie Hogue for the next three innings but the Lakehawk offense did not pull through in response this time. The Lakehawks fell to CF 10-0 in five innings, Auciello moved to 0-1 on the season.
Game 2 – Lake-Sumter 4 (2-2), Eastern Florida 8 (3-1)
The Lakehawks had a strong start against the Titans to gain an early 1-0 lead. Snipes up to bat with two outs took a ball to right field to keep the inning alive.
Raquel Camuglia came up with another single to put Snipes in scoring position. Desiree Romeo followed with a hard-hit ball to center to score Snipes from second.
Freshman Mia Lovett on the mound for the first time this season, got two outs right away. Four hits and an error later, EFSC was up 4-0 after the first inning.
After another 3-run inning for the Titans, the Lakehawks manufactured a run in the top of the third with an opposite field blast by Snipes.
Pippin now in to pitch for the Lakehawks, shut down the Titans offense for the remainder of the game going three-up-three-down for five straight innings fanning six.
The Lakehawks closed the gap once more with a lead off single by Kreighton Steinke. Pinch runner Emily Gable in for Steinke steals second right away to get into scoring position for Alex Baez.
A. Baez reaches on an error while advancing Gable to third. Bella Baez took advantage of the Titan miscue with a sac fly to center to easily score Gable.
The Lakehawks manufactured one more run in the top of the sixth inning. Steinke led off with a hard ground ball, reaching base on an error by the second baseman.
With two outs, Tatum McGrath hit an infield single and Pippin followed with a drive to right field to score Steinke for the Lakehawks' four and final run of the game.
Up next for the Lakehawks
The Lakehawks will travel to Polk State College in Winter Haven, Fla. for a double header on Thursday, February 2 at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.
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