Lightning Break Losing Streak, Win at Sanford 6-2

SANFORD, Fla. - The Leesburg Lightning (15-7) ended their three-game losing streak and stayed in first place with a 6-2 road victory against the Sanford River Rats (7-15) on Saturday night.

 

The Lightning bats were led by Michael Miller (Dallas Baptist), Erik Hindmon (Polk State) and Jake Cavender (Point). Miller was 3-for-4 with one RBI. Hindmon was 2-for-3 and Cavender was 2-for-5.

 

Leesburg pitching only allowed two hits in the game. Sanford leadoff hitter Alex Mendez (South Florida) got a single to start the first inning and the River Rats did not get another hit until the eighth inning.

 

“The bottom line is that we had to play better and we did that tonight,” Lightning head coach Dave Therneau said. “We played better tonight than we have in the past four or five games. We had to piece together our staff. Willie kept us in the game early and we got some big hits.”

 

Willie Rice started the game and pitched four innings, giving up two runs on one hit. Stetson Nelson got the win in relief, after throwing 2.1 scoreless innings.

 

Sanford starter Mike Glassic (East Stroudsburg) took the loss. He pitched four innings, giving up three runs on four hits.

 

The River Rats took an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. Mendez led off with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly from cleanup hitter Ryan Woodrey (Nova Southeastern). Tyler Lesch (South Carolina Upstate) scored the second run of the inning on a groundout.

 

Leesburg tied the game in the second inning. Miller hit a solo home run to left-field. Hindmon scored the second run of the inning on a groundout after reaching on a single.

 

“It felt awesome,” Miller said. “(Glassic) had been throwing first pitch fastballs, so I was sitting on fastballs every time I came up and I got the pitch I wanted on that home run.”

 

The Lightning took the lead in the third when Andrew Kawam (Macomb CC) scored on a sacrificed fly from Brett Moreland (Flagler).

 

Leesburg extended their lead to 6-2 after scoring three more runs in the top of the seventh inning. All three runs came on the same play. With runners on first and second, Miller, who was 3-for-4 in the game, got an infield single on a groundball to third base, but the third baseman overthrew the ball, allowing Moreland and Chase Durham (Dallas Baptist) to score. Miller also scored when the first baseman overthrew the ball trying to pick up an out at home.

 

The Lightning are back in action on Sunday afternoon with a road game at the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (14-8). Game time is 1 p.m.