LEESBURG, Fla. (Softball) – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) softball continued Sun-Lakes Conference play over the weekend with nationally ranked No. 13 St. Johns River State College (SJRSC).
The Vikings recorded the sweep over the Lakehawks; two of those three wins resulted in mercy rule victories.
Game One – Lake-Sumter 0, No. 13 SJRSC 13 (5 innings)
SJRSC jumped on Lake-Sumter from the first inning, scoring runs every inning to secure the mercy rule win on Friday afternoon.
The Viking pitching held the Lakehawks to just two hits in 17 batters faced. The hits came from Savannah Ellis and Jordyn Anderson.
Starting pitcher Ellis recorded the loss with 1.2 innings pitched, moving to a 10-4 record on the mound. She allowed seven runs on seven hits and one walk.
Sophomore Kayley Williams entered in relief, pitching 1.1 innings. She allowed six runs on four hits with three walks.
Left-handed pitcher Elizabeth Auciello closed out the game on the mound with 1.0 inning pitched. She held the Vikings scoreless on just one hit.
Game Two – Lake-Sumter 6, No. 13 SJRSC 10
The Lakehawks took a 3-0 lead over the Vikings from the bottom of the first.
With Payton Parkes and Emma Chisholm on base, back-to-back hits from Kaleigh Thomas and Anderson scored two. Then, a sacrifice fly from Megan Wright gave Thomas an easy trip home.
SJRSC added one run in the top of the third after capitalizing on an infield error from the Lakehawks, but the Lake-Sumter defense was able to hold the score at just one run.
The Lakehawks put three more runs on the board in the bottom half of the third, extending their lead 6-1, after a three-run homerun from Alexis Adams, her fifth of the season.
The Lake-Sumter lead did not stick for long. St. Johns put eight runs on the board in the top of the fifth inning, taking the lead 9-6.
The Vikings added another run in the fifth to secure their lead and the Lakehawks could not manufacture a comeback in the final innings of the game.
Amy Bak recorded the loss on the mound with five innings pitched. With nine runs allowed, only one was earned.
Aciello took the mound in relief of Bak. She pitched 2.0 innings, allowing just one runs on two hits.
Game Three – Lake-Sumter 4, No. 13 SJRSC 12 (5 innings)
The Vikings kept the ball rolling into game three, taking a 12-0 lead over the Lakehawks after three complete innings of play.
With the threat of a second mercy rule loss, the Lakehawks put four runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning in attempts to keep the game alive.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lake-Sumter put three runners on, but could not manufacture a run in their last-chance at-bat to evade a second mercy rule loss for the series.
Starting pitcher Kaitlyn Duquette recorded the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, in the first inning.
Williams pitched three innings in relief. She allowed five runs on five hits and two walks.
Auciello threw the final two innings. She held the Vikings scoreless on just two hits.
The Lakehawks moved to a 25-25 overall, 11-13 in conference. Lake-Sumter currently ranks fourth in regular season Sun-Lakes Conference play.
In their six matchups, Lake-Sumter and SJRSC went 5-1, with the Vikings taking the series for the season. SJRSC's wins over Lake-Sumter claimed the 2024 regular season title and the 2024 FSCAA/NJCAA Region 8 Division II title.
Up next for the Lakehawks
Lakehawk Softball will continue Sun-Lakes Conference play with Pasco-Hernando State College next weekend. Friday's game will be in New Port Richey, Fl. at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday's double header will be at The Hawks Nest at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Livestream video will be available to those who cannot attend.
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