Lightning Snap Losing Streak, Beat Suns 8-7

LEESBURG, Fla. -- The Leesburg Lightning (5-8) returned home to the friendly confines of Pat Thomas Stadium in game two of its series against the DeLand Suns (12-4)

The Suns got the party started early with two runs in the top of the first via an RBI single and a wild pitch. DeLand’s lead did not last long, however. Max Law (North Florida) launched a two-run home run that tied the game at 2-2 after one.

In the second, the Lightning moved in front 4-2 on a wild pitch and an RBI groundout.

Good things kept coming in twos for Leesburg, as they pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Robbie Scott (North Florida) double that plated Wyatt Elbe (Maryville) and Scott eventually came around to score on an errant throw. The Lightning led 6-2 after four innings of action.

The Lightning were not satisfied. In the fifth, they scored on a bases-loaded walk that made it 7-2. An inning later, in the sixth, Law grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Edward Surinach (Embry Riddle) and the Lightning lead was extended to 8-2 after six.

After being shut out for five consecutive innings, DeLand cut into the deficit with a towering two-run homer off the bat of Joe Burke (Kentucky Wesleyan) that made it an 8-4 game score in favor of the Lightning.

Dylan Kelley (South Florida State) threw five innings in relief of Cody Morrow, allowing just two runs on two hits and striking out six batters. Kelley’s work in relief was the key to the game for the Lightning, as he was able to quiet a hot offense. “Dylan was amazing tonight,” head coach Rich Billings said. “Regardless of what happened, Dylan was awesome.”

After the game, Kelley said he was able to let his teammates make plays behind him. “I was able to trust my defense and trust my offspeed pitches,” Kelly explained. “I got ahead in counts and was able to get some first pitch strikes and keep batters guessing. But, I can’t dwell on this. I have to keep pushing and keep working to get better.

The Suns did not go down without a fight. After consecutive walks, Alan Alonso (Mount Olive) crushed a three-run homer that slimmed the Leesburg lead to just 8-7 with no outs in the top of the ninth.

Lightning skipper Rich Billings liked what he saw out of his team on Friday night. “It was nice to have consistent offense tonight,” Billings said. “We gave up that big three-run homer in the ninth so it was nice to have that cushion. We scored some runs when we needed to, we got some big hits, and we got a big homer early in the game from Max (Law). We were able to make some things happen on offense tonight.”

Jaxon Peebles (Alabama)

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