ALABASTER, Ala. (Softball) – The Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) softball team lost in an extra innings thriller to Marion Military Institute (MMI) on the opening day of the 2024 NJCAA Division II South District Championship. The final score after nine innings was 5-4.

The Lakehawks took a two-run lead after a leadoff double off the top of the fence from Payton Parkes. Savannah Ellis and Emma Chisholm loaded the bases after both were hit by pitches.

A sacrifice fly from Kaleigh Thomas scored Parkes and a ball up the middle from Jordyn Anderson scored Ellis.

The Tigers took the lead back in the bottom of the first after a three-run shot to deep center field.

Parkes tied up the game in the top of the second with a triple to right field to score Megan Wright.

MMI scored one in the bottom of the third, taking the lead 4-3 before the Lakehawks tied the game up once again in the fourth.
The score remained tied forcing the game into extra innings.

The Lakehawks put two runners on in the top of the ninth, but strong defensive plays from the Tigers prevented any runs from scoring.

With two outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth, MMI dropped a basehit between short stop and left field. The Tigers baserunner scored from first to walk off the game in extra innings.

Starting pitcher Ellis threw 5.0 innings. She allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts.

Amy Bak recorded the loss in extra inninings with 3.2 innings pitched. She allowed just one run on two hits.

Parkes went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ellis, Wright and Baez recorded two hits each.

The Lakehawks will play their first elimination game against Wallace Community College – Dothan (WCC-Dothan) on Friday at 12:00 p.m. EST.

The winner will advance to play the losing team between no. 1 Central Alabama and no. 4 South Florida State College at 2:30 p.m. EST.

The Lakehawks have to win two games tomorrow to advance to Saturday.

Up Next for the Lakehawks

Lakehawk Softball will fight to keep their season alive against WCC-Dothan at 12:00 p.m. EST.

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The game livestream can be accessed here: ACCC SPORTS NETWORK (jockjive.com)

Admission into the park is $15 per day or $20 for a tournament pass. Children under the age of 6 are free.