A 3-Run 9th Secures the Sweep for the Lightning in a 4-3 Victory

Winter Park, Fla- For the first time this season, the Lightning offense scored less than 6 runs in a game. Despite 5 errors from the defense, the pitching staff shined, giving up just 2 earned runs. 
 
LHP Dustin Dunlap and RHP Nick Wilson both pitched scoreless 1st inning frames, but after an overthrow from right field put a runner on second, the Diamond Dawgs grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 2nd with an RBI single.
 
Like the Leesburg offense has so many times before, they would get that run back in the next inning with an RBI single from 2B Ledger Pleasant to tie the game at 1-1.
 
RHP Bryan Burtoft would relieve Dunlap in the 4th providing two innings of scoreless ball, finishing with 3 punchouts. 
 
The Lightning would run into some trouble in the 6th with 2 runs coming around to score from a 2 RBI single from Gabe Young. RHP Steven Rojas was credited with just one earned run after the other runner reached due to an error from SS Ryan Jenkins. Despite allowing the RBI base hit to Young, RHP Zachary Murkin struck out the next 6 batters before his night came to an end. 
 
Winter Park saw a dominant relief outing from RHP Knute Rockey who went 3 innings giving up just 2 hits and a pair of walks. 
 
With Leesburg down to its final 3 outs, a leadoff walk from CF Eli Thurmond would get things going in the 9th. LF Riley Fitzgerald would then move Thurmond to second with a ground out before Jenkins singled to put runners at the corners with 1 out. With the bat in the hands of 1B James Strom, the Odessa native would rifle a double into left field that scored both runners, tying the game at 3-3. During the play, a throwing error from the left fielder allowed Strom to reach third before RF Charlie Keller hit a sacrifice fly giving Leesburg a 4-3 lead.
 
RHP TJ Socarras came on in the 9th for the save after going 1-4 at the plate. Socarras was able to work around both a lead off and two out walk before getting a groundout to end the game.  
 
With so many strong outings from Lightning pitchers, Coach Billings said it’s tough to keep going deeper into the bullpen when every arm that takes the mound is dealing.
 
“It's harder sometimes than others depending on who you go to, but my job is to get them innings and that's what we're going to do," said Billings. “And sometimes you have to take a guy out that's pitching great, that you maybe normally wouldn’t take out, but that's just part of it and you just have to show them that you trust them and you got to give them opportunities.”
 
Leesburg enjoys its first Sunday off before starting a two-game series with the Orlando Snappers on Monday June 9th. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at The First Academy.

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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