A 10th Inning Offensive Explosion gives the Lightning their First Win of the Season, 19-11

Sanford, Fla- In another slugfest between the Lightning and the River Rats, Coach Billing’s squad came out on top after an extra inning rally. A risky send by third base coach Tanner Clark in the top of the 9th paid off as Leesburg was able to tie it and extend the game. All 10 batters reached safely at least once including 4 players who had two hits each. 

Just like in the first two games, both teams found success in the 1st starting with an RBI single from RF Charlie Keller that gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead. The Rats answered back with a run off of a balk from Leesburg’s starting pitcher Zachary Murkin which evened things up at 1-1. 

Later in the 3rd, SS Ryan Jenkins and 1B Juan Orozco scored on two different wild pitches in the same at bat before an RBI single from extra hitter Marco Mueses plated another run making it 4-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Rats got a run back after a groundout scored Cameron King cutting the Lightning lead to 4-2. 

The 4th inning saw Sanford score another run after an RBI single from Anthony Saleeba. In the 5th, the Rats would put up a crooked number after a two run homer from Dawson Harman tied the game at 4-4. Three batters later, a double play brought home another run followed by a bases loaded balk which gave Sanford the lead 7-4. 

After loading the bases with nobody out in the 7th, the Lightning would score just one run from sacrifice fly off the bat of extra hitter Ledger Pleasant to make it 7-5. A steller performance on the mound from LHP Ethan Barrett kept Leesburg in the game through the middle innings. Barrett pitched 3 innings without giving up a hit, run, or a free pass while striking out 3. 

Despite the Lightning bats being shut down in the 8th, they came alive when it mattered most in the top of the 9th. Back to back singles from 3B Reid Snider and Marco Mueses followed by a sacrifice fly from 2B TJ Socarras put runners at second and third with only one out. LF Eli Thurmond would send a sharp ground ball to the Rats shortstop that took a nasty hop off his glove, skipping away into shallow left field. Snider scored with ease and Mueses was given a gutsy green light wave that proved to be the right call as the throw was off line tying the game at 7-7. 

LHP Nick Delnegro held the lead for the Lightning in the bottom of the 9th with a 1-2-3 inning to force extras. 

Then came the scoring barrage starting with back-to-back walks that loaded the bases after Ryan Jenkins was placed at second base to start the 10th inning. A flurry of wild pitches saw all three runners score followed by a bases loaded hit by pitch to make it 11-7. But the Lightning were just getting started; 4 more singles, a 3 RBI double, and an error by the pitcher all contributed to 8 more runs coming across which extended the lead to 19-7 heading into the bottom of the 10th. 

The Rats tried stringing together a momentous comeback, but came up short scoring just 4 runs in the bottom of the 10th making the final score 19-11. 

After the game, Coach Billings highlighted not just how important it was to get the first win, but how crucial it is to get everyone solid playing time throughout the rest of the summer . 

“It's always good to get the first one so we know we’re not going to go 0-36,” said Coach Billings. “It's really just about these guys getting opportunities to get better. I feel like even in the two losses that we've had, we've gotten them opportunities to succeed, they've had opportunities to fail, but they've had opportunities to improve and that's really what it's all about. So a win's great but as long as these guys are getting the chances and and they're having a good time and I'm happy”

The Lightning will try to build on their first win as they face the Winter Garden Squeeze on Monday June 2nd. First pitch is set for 7 p.m at Pat Thomas Stadium. 

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

Return to News