Lakehawk Softball Moves on to Championship Saturday

PALATKA, Fla. (Softball) – Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) Softball went 1-1 on day two of the FCSAA DII Softball Championship. The Lakehawks fell to No. 1 seed St. John's River State College (SJRSC), 10-5, before defeating No. 4 Florida Gateway College (FGC), 11-3, to advance to the championship game on Saturday.

Game one of the day against SJRSC started with a bang with LSSC going up 1-0 in the top of the first. The Vikings took the lead with two runs in the bottom half of the inning before Emma Chishom tied it up with a solo home run in the second.

Both teams exchanged one run each in the third and headed to the fourth inning tied, 3-3.

The Vikings were able to plate five runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to create a comfortable 10-3 lead. Lake-Sumter added two runs in the seventh before falling, 10-5.

Sammi Thomas was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Nicol Werking added a double and an RBI in a losing effort.

Kaitlyn Duquette was tagged with the loss on the mound.

The loss in game one forced LSSC into an elimination game with Florida Gateway College in the team's second game of the day.

Thomas and Werking drove in one run each in the first two innings while FGC manufactured one run. The Lakehawks carried a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning when the Timberwolves tied up the game and then took the lead one batter later.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the offense broke out in for the Lakehawks. With four hits, three walks and a sacrifice fly, the lead changed hands again with LSSC on top, 8-3.

The biggest hit of the inning was a bases loaded triple by Emma Christensen. The offense continued in the sixth inning and culminated in a single to left field by Malayla Miller to plate Maya Hegedus to put her team up 11-3, ending the game by run rule.

Macie Bourgholtzer was a force for LSSC with two hits, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Christensen and Chisholm combined for four hits and six RBIs.

After suffering the loss on the mound in game one, Duquette came back to get the win in game two, giving her 11 victories on the season.

"Today has been a really long and hot day for these girls, but when they needed to be at their best, that is exactly what they were," said Head Coach, Jay Miller.

"I cannot say enough about them and what they have accomplished. They are going to play in a Regional Championship game and I am lucky enough that they are taking me with them."

The win sent the Lakehawks to Championship Saturday. Lake-Sumter will face off with St. John's River State College at 2:00 p.m. with an "if necessary" game scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Saturday's game will be available to watch free of charge here.

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