DELAND, Fla, - The Leesburg Lightning fell 7-2 to the Deland Suns on Saturday night at Sperling Sports Complex. Deland snapped its 10-game losing streak, earning its first victory of the year.
The Lightning struck in the first inning with a sacrifice-fly from junior Gabriel Esquivel (North Florida). They would not return to the scoreboard until the eighth inning when Ian Thornton (Lake Sumter) scored on an error by the Suns’ center fielder on a Gabriel Santiago (Newberry) line drive.
After Leesburg had the upper hand to start, Deland bounced back with two runs in the bottom of the first. The Suns would never lose their lead, scoring early and often.
A throwing error from the Bolts with runners on the corners would score the tying run and an RBI groundout from Suns outfielder Sean Sparling (Daytona State) would give Deland a 2-1 lead at the end of one.
The Suns got their best start of the year from freshman right-handed pitcher Stephen Cherepanya (Rollins), hurling seven innings allowing just one run on eight hits.
Seven of the 10 Leesburg hitters had a hit for a total of eight. Another loss for the Bolts where they had several hits, but struggled to score runs.
Senior right-hander Heston Mosley (Jacksonville U) made the start for the Lightning and was given his second loss of the summer. Mosley allowed two runs on two hits in the first inning and settled in nicely, with three scoreless innings on one hit.
Deland eventually pulled away in the sixth inning with six straight hits to open the inning for the Suns resulting in four runs. The Lightning found themselves battling a 7-1 deficit late in the contest.
Relief pitcher Cade Udell (Villanova) polished off the first Suns win with two hitless innings, allowing one run and striking out four. Udell has been on fire with 18 strikeouts in seven and a third innings pitched.
An uncharacteristic performance from the Lightning bullpen as Cody Bruns (Mars Hill), Bryson Galloway (North Carolina A&T) and Cameron Sereda (Tampa U) combined for three runs on eight hits. Sereda struck out four in his two innings of work and the final Leesburg pitcher, Ty Van Dyke (Seminole St), struck out the side in order in the eighth.
Leesburg dropped to 8-6 on the year with the loss and will have Sunday off to enjoy Father’s Day and refocus for a single game with the Seminole County Snappers on Monday night. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. at Historic Sanford Memorial Stadium.
Tom Cavanaugh, (Michigan State University)
