LEESBURG, Florida - A new head coach is leading the Seminole State Softball program. And Abbie Millete is pick up right where Courtney Miller left off, by leading the Raiders to two wins in the opening weekend. SSC swept Lake Sumter, 5-4 and 5-1 on Saturday in Leesburg. The same two teams will square off on Friday, this time at Courtney Miller Field on the Sanford/Lake Mary campus of Seminole State.

Game 1 was a little closer than Millete might have wanted. The Raiders plated 2 in the top of the third to start the scoring. LSSC countered with 3 in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the fourth, Julianna Nieves, Skyler Cloud and Kiara Beltre all walked to load the bases and Izabell LaRoche's single scored two to put the Raiders back on top, 4-3. Seminole added an insurance run that they would need in the top of the 7th. Walks again were a key factor as Mia Terito singled in Mackenzie Eland (pinch running for Anna Green), 5-3 Raiders. The LakeHawks got one back in the bottom of the seventh. SSC closed the door with a Jaleigha Harris to Terito double play. Heather Rue picked up the win and Mia Rosario the save.
 
Defensively, Game 2 was a better showing for the Raiders. Samantha Titzel (W, 1-0) and Shaylen Byrd (Save) combined to scatter 6 hits and 1 run, allowing only 3 walks while striking out 5 in the 5-1 SSC win.

"Great way to start the season. Lots of jitters for the first games, which is to be expected," said Coach Millete. "I am excited to see how this team competes once they settle into who they are as a team."

The College recently announced that Raider Softball Field will now be named Courtney Miller Field. Fans will notice the start of some major renovations prior to the home opener. New sod and irrigation updates are also planned for the summer of 2025. More details will be announced after the first of the year.

RAIDER NOTES:

• Fans and alums wanting to make donations to the Courtney Miller Field Renovations Campaign can do so here: https://seminolestate.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/cmfield
• Abbie Millete is the second head coach in the history of the SSC Softball program
• All home games are streamed via https://video.ibm.com/channel/4d5r5AqugTP
• Tickets for home games are FREE
• 22 Raider Student-Athletes were named Academic All (NJCAA) American for 2023-24, including 9 from the Softball program 
• Raider Athletics has generated over $1,000,000 in economic impact to Seminole County since 2017
• For sponsorship information, please email Kurt Esser, esserk@seminolestate.edu
• To donate to the Courtney Miller Field Renovation Campaign: https://seminolestate.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/cmfield

About the Seminole State Raiders:

The Raider Athletics Department of Seminole State College lives by the Mission of "preparing Raiders for their Next Steps in Life." "Next steps" can include moving on with an athletic scholarship to a four-year university, an AA or AS degree or preparing to finish a bachelors' degree at Seminole State.

The Raiders were established in 1965 and initially led by Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Joe Sterling. Seminole State sponsors five sports all competing in the NJCAA Division I.  Both Baseball and Softball facilities are located on College Drive on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.

For more about Raider Athletics, visit SeminoleStateRaiders.com, follow us on Twitter: @buildingRaiders and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/buildingRaiders/.  Fans can follow the Raider Softball team on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seminolestatesoftball).

Media contact: Kurt Esser, Director of Athletics, 407.708.2092, esserk@seminolestate.edu