LEESBURG, Fla. (Softball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) softball team went 2-2 on the week after splitting a pair of double headers with Hillsborough Community College (HCC) on Friday and St. Petersburg College (SPC) on Saturday. LSSC softball improved to 9-7 on the season so far.

Friday, February 17 – Lake-Sumter at Hillsborough Community College

Behind 14 hits, Lakehawks secured game one over HCC in mercy-rule fashion defeating the Hawks 13-5. After scoring one in the top of the first, the Lakehawks added more to the board in the second giving them a comfortable 8-0 lead right away.

Lake-Sumter added three more in the top of the third while holding HCC to none until the bottom of the fourth where they managed to put four on the board.

The Lakehawks added two more in the top of the fifth to secure a nine-run lead over HCC. HCC's final effort to get one run across the board in the bottom of the fifth was ultimately not enough to keep the mercy-rule decision away.

Ali Shenefield recorded the win on the mound with four innings pitched, she registered six strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs on six hits and four walks. Darrian Pippin came in relief in the fifth inning to close the game.  

Desiree Romeo, Molly Bender, Reese Snipes, Raquel Camuglia, and Alex Baez all recorded multiple hits in game one. Kreighton Steinke, Romeo, Snipes, and Camuglia each recorded multiple RBIs.

HCC kept game two much closer taking it from the Lakehawks 4-3. HCC had 11 hits while LSSC recorded nine.

Bender was 3-for-4, Steinke was 2-for-3 and Snipes was 2-for-4 in game two. Camuglia and Makenzi Heaton each also recorded hits.

Mia Lovett recorded the loss on the mound with four innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two strikeouts. Pippin pitched the final two innings in relief for Lovett allowing just one runs on four hits.

Saturday, February 18 – Lake-Sumter vs. St. Petersburg College

Behind eight hits, the Lakehawks defeated SPC in game one on Saturday 5-1.

The Lakehawks took the lead in game one with back-to-back singles by Romeo and Bender. An error by the leftfielder on Bender's hit allowed Romeo to score the first run of the game.

Then Camgulia came up with a single to right field, scoring Bender from third. Lake-Sumter led 2-0 after the first inning.

The Lakehawks added another run in the bottom of the second. Romeo reached by fielder's choice and then stole second.

With Romeo in scoring position, Bender delivered with a single to right field allowing Romeo to score easily.

Pippin held the Titans scoreless until the fifth inning after SPC's Alyssa Brown sent a triple to right field and scored on a single by Alyson Lucas the next at bat.

In the bottom of the fifth, Romeo led off with a single to left. Bender came next with a single to center field moving Romeo to third.

With SPC in a first and third situation, Bender stole second to draw the throw allowing Romeo to score and the baserunning chaos allowed Bender to reach second safely.

Bender moved to third on an infield ground ball by Snipes and scored on another by Camuglia.

Pippin recorded the complete-game win allowing just one run on six hits and one walk while fanning five Titan batters. Pippin improved to a 4-1 record on the mound.

In game one, Romeo was 2-for-3, Bender was 3-for-3 and Camgulia was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Game two ended by mercy-rule in SPC's favor. Behind 13 hits, Titans defeated the Lakehawks 10-2 in five innings.

Romeo and Bender each when 2-for-3, Bender recording both RBIs for the game. Bella Baez was 1-for-2 with a run scored and Alex Baez was 2-for-2 with a run scored.

Kayley Williams pitched the first three innings allowing three runs on five hits with one strikeout. Lovett recorded the loss with two innings pitched after allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk.

Up next for the Lakehawks

Lakehawk baseball will be back at The HawksNest on Tuesday, February 21 for a double header against Daytona State College at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Live stream video will be available for those who cannot attend.

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