Sanford River Rats

12

FINAL/7

2

Leesburg Lightning
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
SAN 2 2 2 2 1 0 3 12 11 0
LEE 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 6 3
WWitherspoon
LVieira
Lightning Lose Fifth In A Row

Lightning Lose Fifth In A Row

LEESBURG, Fla.-The Leesburg Lightning (2-6) dropped their fifth consecutive game Saturday night with a 12-2 loss, as the Sanford River Rats (8-0) completed the series sweep. 

It was a rough night for the Lightning from the first pitch of the night, as Connor Hujsak took Nick Vieira (UCF) deep on the game’s first pitch. 

This set the tone for Sanford, as the River Rats continued to score consistently for the rest of the game. 

The lone runs on the night for Leesburg came off of a passed ball that scored Tyler Gerteisen (North Florida) and a RBI single by Cade Sadler (Northwest Florida State), both runs coming in the sixth inning. 

This was Leesburg’s fifth consecutive loss and Lightning Head Coach Rich Billings will look to continue to build confidence and make progress with this struggling Lightning team. 

“We just can’t allow losing to become a habit,” Billings said. “As quickly as a season can go south, it can turn around and thats what I’m trying to get them to understand right now.”

Hector Mangual (Missouri) is one of the players that has had early season struggles, but has as much potential and talent as anyone on this Lightning squad. He broke through for a base hit in three at-bats and made several great defensive plays on the night. 

“He’s a guy who missed the whole spring, so he has really been working at it since this is his first time seeing live pitching in a long time,” Billings said. “He’s a special and really talented player and I think he is only going to continue to get better from here.” 

Leesburg will now head into a much needed off day, as they have played eight games in the last nine days. This short break will be crucial to help the Lightning recover from injuries and recharge before another five game slate scheduled for next week.

“None of these guys are used to playing everyday because it’s not how they do things at the college level, it’s only something seen at the pro level,” Billings said. “The off day will be good just to get them away from the field and get them away from the struggle.” 

The Lightning will be back in action on the road Monday night, taking on the Orlando Snappers. First pitch is set for 7 PM at Lake Highland Prep.

(Carter Mansfield, Austin Peay State University)

Carter Mansfield - 06/11/23 2:20am

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Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Hujsak, cf 4 2 3 2 0 1
Smith, rf 2 1 0 0 1 1
Collins, 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0
Warde, dh 3 1 2 1 1 0
Puckett, 3b 3 2 1 2 0 2
Woodburn, 2b 3 2 1 0 1 1
Brazil, dh 2 0 0 0 1 1
Bowen, ph 0 1 0 0 1 0
Mercer, lf 3 1 0 1 1 0
McKenzie, c 3 1 2 2 0 0
Russo, c 1 0 0 1 0 0
Trivella, ss 4 0 1 0 0 1

Batting

2B - Hujsak

HR - Hujsak, Collins, Puckett

RBI - Hujsak 2, Collins 2, Warde, Puckett 2, Mercer, McKenzie 2, Russo

HBP - Puckett

Baserunning

SB - Smith

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Witherspoon, W 5.0 3 0 0 2 9
Stewart 2.0 3 2 2 1 5

Wild Pitches - Witherspoon 2

Pitches/Strikes - Witherspoon 71/47, Stewart 40/26

Groundouts/Flyouts - Witherspoon 3/3, Stewart 1/0

Batters Faced - Witherspoon 20, Stewart 11

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Santiago, 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0
Gerteisen, lf 2 1 0 0 1 2
Niu, 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2
Sadler, 1b 3 0 1 1 0 2
Chapman, dh 3 0 0 0 0 2
Furry, cf 3 0 2 0 0 0
Leinenbach, rf 2 0 0 0 1 2
Perry, dh 3 0 0 0 0 3
Mangual, ss 3 0 1 0 0 1
Wrubluski, c 2 0 1 0 1 0

Batting

RBI - Sadler

HBP - Santiago

Baserunning

SB - Santiago, Furry

Fielding

E - Furry, Leinenbach, Mangual

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Vieira, L 2.1 7 6 5 2 2
Fitzgerald 1.2 2 2 2 2 1
Brown 1.0 2 1 0 0 2
Donay 1.0 0 2 2 1 1
Foster 1.0 0 1 1 1 1

Wild Pitches - Foster

Pitches/Strikes - Vieira 60/35, Fitzgerald 31/18, Brown 19/13, Donay 17/8, Foster 14/7

Groundouts/Flyouts - Vieira 2/3, Fitzgerald 3/1, Brown 1/0, Donay 1/0, Foster 2/0

Batters Faced - Vieira 16, Fitzgerald 9, Brown 6, Donay 5, Foster 4

River Rats

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Hujsak, cf 4 2 3 2 0 1
Smith, rf 2 1 0 0 1 1
Collins, 1b 4 1 1 2 0 0
Warde, dh 3 1 2 1 1 0
Puckett, 3b 3 2 1 2 0 2
Woodburn, 2b 3 2 1 0 1 1
Brazil, dh 2 0 0 0 1 1
Bowen, ph 0 1 0 0 1 0
Mercer, lf 3 1 0 1 1 0
McKenzie, c 3 1 2 2 0 0
Russo, c 1 0 0 1 0 0
Trivella, ss 4 0 1 0 0 1

Batting

2B - Hujsak

HR - Hujsak, Collins, Puckett

RBI - Hujsak 2, Collins 2, Warde, Puckett 2, Mercer, McKenzie 2, Russo

HBP - Puckett

Baserunning

SB - Smith

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Witherspoon, W 5.0 3 0 0 2 9
Stewart 2.0 3 2 2 1 5

Wild Pitches - Witherspoon 2

Pitches/Strikes - Witherspoon 71/47, Stewart 40/26

Groundouts/Flyouts - Witherspoon 3/3, Stewart 1/0

Batters Faced - Witherspoon 20, Stewart 11

Lightning

Batting

Name AB R H RBI BB SO
Santiago, 2b 3 1 1 0 0 0
Gerteisen, lf 2 1 0 0 1 2
Niu, 3b 3 0 0 0 0 2
Sadler, 1b 3 0 1 1 0 2
Chapman, dh 3 0 0 0 0 2
Furry, cf 3 0 2 0 0 0
Leinenbach, rf 2 0 0 0 1 2
Perry, dh 3 0 0 0 0 3
Mangual, ss 3 0 1 0 0 1
Wrubluski, c 2 0 1 0 1 0

Batting

RBI - Sadler

HBP - Santiago

Baserunning

SB - Santiago, Furry

Fielding

E - Furry, Leinenbach, Mangual

Pitching

Name IP H R ER BB SO
Vieira, L 2.1 7 6 5 2 2
Fitzgerald 1.2 2 2 2 2 1
Brown 1.0 2 1 0 0 2
Donay 1.0 0 2 2 1 1
Foster 1.0 0 1 1 1 1

Wild Pitches - Foster

Pitches/Strikes - Vieira 60/35, Fitzgerald 31/18, Brown 19/13, Donay 17/8, Foster 14/7

Groundouts/Flyouts - Vieira 2/3, Fitzgerald 3/1, Brown 1/0, Donay 1/0, Foster 2/0

Batters Faced - Vieira 16, Fitzgerald 9, Brown 6, Donay 5, Foster 4

Scoring Plays

Top 1st

Jaiden Warde singled to center field, RBI. JQuann Smith scored.

Top 2nd

Jacob McKenzie singled to right field, advanced to second on a fielding error by rf, RBI. Rayondre Mercer scored.
Connor Hujsak singled to right field, RBI. Jacob McKenzie scored, unearned.

Top 3rd

Stewart Puckett homered to right field, 2 RBI. Jaiden Warde scored.

Top 4th

Nicholas Collins homered to right field, 2 RBI. Connor Hujsak scored.

Top 5th

Jacob McKenzie singled to left field, RBI. Brayden Woodburn scored, unearned.

Bottom 6th

Cade Sadler singled, RBI. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Logan Chapman struck out swinging. Cade Sadler advanced to second. Tyler Gerteisen scored.

Top 7th

Dylan Bowen advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brayden Woodburn advanced to third on a wild pitch. Stewart Puckett scored on a wild pitch.
Rayondre Mercer grounded out to 2b, RBI. Dylan Bowen advanced to third. Brayden Woodburn scored.
Cole Russo out at first 2b to p, RBI. Dylan Bowen scored.

All Plays

Top 1st

Connor Hujsak homered to center field, RBI.
JQuann Smith walked.
JQuann Smith stole second.
Nicholas Collins grounded out to 2b. JQuann Smith advanced to third. 1 out
Jaiden Warde singled to center field, RBI. JQuann Smith scored.
Stewart Puckett struck out swinging. 2 out
Brayden Woodburn struck out swinging. 3 out

Bottom 1st

Gabriel Santiago flied out to cf. 1 out
Tyler Gerteisen struck out swinging. 2 out
Maika Niu struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 2nd

Dylan Brazil popped up to 2b. 1 out
Rayondre Mercer walked.
Jacob McKenzie singled to right field, advanced to second on a fielding error by rf, RBI. Rayondre Mercer scored.
Mario Trivella flied out to cf. Jacob McKenzie advanced to third. 2 out
Connor Hujsak singled to right field, RBI. Jacob McKenzie scored, unearned.
JQuann Smith popped up to ss. 3 out

Bottom 2nd

Cade Sadler struck out swinging. 1 out
Logan Chapman struck out swinging. 2 out
Michael Furry grounded out to ss. 3 out

Top 3rd

Nicholas Collins grounded out to ss. 1 out
Jaiden Warde singled.
Stewart Puckett homered to right field, 2 RBI. Jaiden Warde scored.
Brayden Woodburn singled.
Riley Fitzgerald replaces Nick Vieira at pitcher.
Dylan Brazil walked. Brayden Woodburn advanced to second.
Rayondre Mercer grounded out to 2b. Dylan Brazil advanced to second. Brayden Woodburn advanced to third. 2 out
Jacob McKenzie flied out to rf. 3 out

Bottom 3rd

Andrew Leinenbach struck out looking. 1 out
Hayden Perry struck out swinging. 2 out
Hector Mangual singled.
Hector Mangual advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Nicholas Wrubluski walked.
Gabriel Santiago singled. Nicholas Wrubluski advanced to second. Hector Mangual advanced to third.
Tyler Gerteisen struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 4th

Mario Trivella grounded out to ss. 1 out
Connor Hujsak doubled.
JQuann Smith grounded out to p, SAC, bunt. Connor Hujsak advanced to third. 2 out
Nicholas Collins homered to right field, 2 RBI. Connor Hujsak scored.
Jaiden Warde walked.
Stewart Puckett struck out looking. 3 out

Bottom 4th

Maika Niu grounded out to ss. 1 out
Cade Sadler struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b. 2 out
Logan Chapman flied out to rf. 3 out

Top 5th

Ryan Brown replaces Riley Fitzgerald at pitcher.
Brayden Woodburn reached on a dropped fly by cf, advanced to second on the error.
Dylan Brazil struck out looking. 1 out
Rayondre Mercer grounded out to ss. Brayden Woodburn advanced to third. 2 out
Jacob McKenzie singled to left field, RBI. Brayden Woodburn scored, unearned.
Mario Trivella singled. Jacob McKenzie advanced to second.
Connor Hujsak struck out looking. 3 out

Bottom 5th

Michael Furry singled.
Michael Furry stole second.
Michael Furry advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Andrew Leinenbach walked.
Andrew Leinenbach advanced to second.
Hayden Perry struck out swinging. 1 out
Hector Mangual grounded out to p. 2 out
Nicholas Wrubluski flied out to rf. 3 out

Top 6th

Tyler Donay replaces Ryan Brown at pitcher.
JQuann Smith struck out looking. 1 out
Nicholas Collins reached on a throwing error by ss, out at second c to ss. 2 out
Jaiden Warde grounded out to 3b. 3 out

Bottom 6th

Cole Russo replaces Jacob McKenzie at catcher.
Justin Stewart replaces Malachi Witherspoon at pitcher.
Gabriel Santiago hit by pitch.
Gabriel Santiago stole second.
Tyler Gerteisen walked.
Gabriel Santiago advanced to third on a passed ball.
Tyler Gerteisen advanced to second.
Maika Niu struck out swinging. 1 out
Cade Sadler singled, RBI. Tyler Gerteisen advanced to third. Gabriel Santiago scored.
Logan Chapman struck out swinging. Cade Sadler advanced to second. Tyler Gerteisen scored. 2 out
Michael Furry singled. Cade Sadler advanced to third.
Michael Furry advanced to second.
Andrew Leinenbach struck out swinging. 3 out

Top 7th

Stewart Puckett hit by pitch.
Brayden Woodburn walked. Stewart Puckett advanced to second.
Dylan Bowen replaces Dylan Brazil at pinch hitter.
Daniel Foster replaces Tyler Donay at pitcher.
Dylan Bowen walked. Brayden Woodburn advanced to second. Stewart Puckett advanced to third.
Dylan Bowen advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brayden Woodburn advanced to third on a wild pitch. Stewart Puckett scored on a wild pitch.
Rayondre Mercer grounded out to 2b, RBI. Dylan Bowen advanced to third. Brayden Woodburn scored. 1 out
Cole Russo out at first 2b to p, RBI. Dylan Bowen scored. 2 out
Mario Trivella struck out swinging. 3 out

Bottom 7th

Hayden Perry struck out swinging. 1 out
Hector Mangual struck out swinging. 2 out
Nicholas Wrubluski singled.
Gabriel Santiago grounded out to 2b. 3 out