Lightning Fall to River Rats in First Game of Series

SANFORD, Fla. — The Leesburg Lightning dropped Game One of the Florida Collegiate Summer League semifinals on Wednesday night, falling to the top-seeded Sanford River Rats 6-5 in 11 innings at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.

Sanford won the game in the bottom of the 11th on a walk-off RBI double by Omar Villaman (Florida Southern).

It was a tale of two half innings as both teams broke out with runs in the third inning.

Following a hit-by-pitch that allowed Josh Pagliei (Flagler) to reach with one out, Cornell Nixon (Eastern Kentucky) and Austin Simmons (Thomas) followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Sanford starter Jacob Billingsley (Mississippi State) struck out the next batter, but Clay Simmons (South Florida) came through for Leesburg with a single into left field. Pagliei and Nixon scored with ease but the River Rats' left fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Austin Simmons to come around as well to give the Lightning a 3-0 lead.

Sanford retaliated in the bottom half of the third, scoring four times to take a 4-3 lead. Walker Burgess (Florida Southern) was bothered by the River Rats, giving up two earned runs on two hits. An error by third basemen Clay Simmons also proved costly for Leesburg as Nate Brecklin (The Citadel) was able to get the Lightning out of the inning, but not before they surrendered the lead to the River Rats.

"It all comes back to making the routine plays when our pitchers are throwing strikes," Head Coach Rich Billings said. "We missed a few routine plays in that inning and it hurt us. If we make those plays, we're looking at a completely different inning and possibly a different ballgame."

The River Rats padded the lead to 5-3 with a run in the sixth inning.

Leesburg put a scare into Sanford in the top of the eighth as the Lightning loaded the bases with one out but were only able to push one run across.

"Our guys put together some great at-bats tonight," Billings said. "Eight of our 10 hits came with two strikes, which shows the amount of confidence they have even when they're behind in the count. We just came up short in some key situations."

The Lightning, who advanced Tuesday night with an 11-inning win, again sent the game into extra innings with a run in the ninth. Austin Simmons led off the inning with a triple and Tanner Long (Thomas) followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

The best-of-three series will make its way back to Leesburg on Thursday night in a must-win situation for the Lightning. First pitch from Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field is set for 6 p.m.

Eddie Poe, York College of Pennsylvania

Eddie Poe - 08/04/16 1:10am

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