Lightning Squander Opportunities in 7-5 Loss
LEESBURG, Fla. -- The Leesburg Lightning (12-15) took on the DeLand Suns (20-9) on Tuesday night at Pat Thomas Stadium for game two of the series between the two clubs.
The Suns scratched the first run across on a Garett Wallace (South Carolina Upstate) RBI single. DeLand was on top 1-0 after two quick innings.
The third inning was the start of a big night for DeLand’s Joe Burke (Kentucky Wesleyan), as he crushed a home run well over the left field fence. The homer was a two-run shot that gave the Suns a 3-0 lead.
The Lightning wouldn’t stay off the board long, as newcomer Nick Lewis (Valdosta State) brought home Max Law (North Florida), who singled earlier in the inning. The RBI single cut the Suns’ lead to 3-1.
The Suns added two runs in the top of the sixth on a Hunter Fornari (FGCU) RBI double and a Peter Hutzal (Marshall) run-scoring single to extend the DeLand advantage to 5-1.
As the game moved to the seventh, Joe Burker continued to torment the Lightning. The Kentucky Wesleyan product hit a towering solo bomb, his second of the game and fifth of the season, that pushed the Suns’ lead to 6-1.
In the home half of the seventh inning, the Bolts squandered a huge opportunity to climb back in the game. After the Lightning loaded the bases with nobody out, the Bolts struck out twice and popped up to the catcher to end the inning with nothing to show for it.
The Lightning did not go quietly in the ninth, as they mustered up two big runs in the eighth to keep the Suns within striking distance. Sean Mootrey (Georgia Gwinnett) and Parker Pillsbury (Chipola) each recorded RBI singles to cut the deficit to just 6-3 after eight.
The Suns added an always important insurance run in the ninth, as Joe Burke continued to torture Lightning pitching. His looping liner into center field drove in a run and extended the Suns’ lead to 7-3 as the game entered the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Lightning once again loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. The Lightning got an RBI single from Jarrett Backus (King College) and a sacrifice fly from Pablo Cedeno (UCF) to cut the DeLand lead to 7-5, but that’s all the Lightning could get. The Suns would escape with the 7-5 win.
Lightning head coach Rich Billings said that the club has to put up better at bats with runners on. “Every inning that we have runners on counts,” Billings said. “We get to the ninth with our backs against the wall and we start fighting more. We need to do that in the early innings as well.”
Jaxon Peebles (Alabama)
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Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| McNamara, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Fornari, ss |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Townsend, lf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Hutzal, dh |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Alonso, rf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Montenegro, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Wallace, 3b |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Burke, 1b |
5 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
| Dixon, cf |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Palmer, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Chiseri, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Castle, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Fornari, Hutzal
HR - Burke 2
RBI - Fornari, Hutzal, Wallace, Burke 4
GDP - Fornari
HBP - Wallace
Baserunning
SB - Fornari, Townsend
Fielding
E - McNamara, Montenegro, Wallace, Chiseri
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Palmer, W |
6.0 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| Chiseri |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Castle |
2.0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Pitches/Strikes - Palmer 94/55, Chiseri 29/15, Castle 44/23
Groundouts/Flyouts - Palmer 5/8, Chiseri 0/1, Castle 3/1
Batters Faced - Palmer 25, Chiseri 6, Castle 14
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Pillsbury, cf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mathis, lf |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Law, 3b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cox, rf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Wade, pr |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lewis, 2b |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Surinach, ss |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Backus, 1b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Scott, pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cedeno, c |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Clark, dh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mootrey, ph/dh |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hinton, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Foster, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wilson, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Law
RBI - Pillsbury, Lewis, Backus, Cedeno, Mootrey
GDP - Cedeno
HBP - Backus
Baserunning
SB - Law
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Hinton, Wilson
Pitches/Strikes - Hinton 74/47, Foster 41/22, Wilson 45/32
Groundouts/Flyouts - Hinton 7/2, Foster 1/1, Wilson 2/3
Batters Faced - Hinton 22, Foster 10, Wilson 13
Suns
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
| McNamara, 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Fornari, ss |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Townsend, lf |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Hutzal, dh |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Alonso, rf |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Montenegro, c |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Wallace, 3b |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Burke, 1b |
5 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
| Dixon, cf |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| Palmer, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Chiseri, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Castle, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Fornari, Hutzal
HR - Burke 2
RBI - Fornari, Hutzal, Wallace, Burke 4
GDP - Fornari
HBP - Wallace
Baserunning
SB - Fornari, Townsend
Fielding
E - McNamara, Montenegro, Wallace, Chiseri
Pitching
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Palmer, W |
6.0 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| Chiseri |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Castle |
2.0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
Pitches/Strikes - Palmer 94/55, Chiseri 29/15, Castle 44/23
Groundouts/Flyouts - Palmer 5/8, Chiseri 0/1, Castle 3/1
Batters Faced - Palmer 25, Chiseri 6, Castle 14
Lightning
Batting
| Name |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
|
Pillsbury, cf |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mathis, lf |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Law, 3b |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Cox, rf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Wade, pr |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lewis, 2b |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Surinach, ss |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Backus, 1b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Scott, pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cedeno, c |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Clark, dh |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mootrey, ph/dh |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hinton, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Foster, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wilson, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Batting
2B - Law
RBI - Pillsbury, Lewis, Backus, Cedeno, Mootrey
GDP - Cedeno
HBP - Backus
Baserunning
SB - Law
Pitching
Wild Pitches - Hinton, Wilson
Pitches/Strikes - Hinton 74/47, Foster 41/22, Wilson 45/32
Groundouts/Flyouts - Hinton 7/2, Foster 1/1, Wilson 2/3
Batters Faced - Hinton 22, Foster 10, Wilson 13
Scoring Plays
Top 2nd
Garett Wallace singled to center field, RBI. Rodrigo Montenegro advanced to second. Alan Alonso scored.
Top 4th
Joe Burke homered to left field, 2 RBI. Rodrigo Montenegro scored.
Bottom 4th
Nick Lewis singled to third base, RBI. Max Law scored.
Top 6th
Hunter Fornari doubled to left center, RBI. Joe McNamara scored.
Peter Hutzal singled to right field, RBI. Mark Townsend advanced to third. Hunter Fornari scored.
Bottom 8th
Sean Mootrey singled to center field, RBI. Pablo Cedeno advanced to second. Jarrett Backus scored, unearned.
Parker Pillsbury singled down the 3b line, RBI. Sean Mootrey advanced to second. Pablo Cedeno scored, unearned.
Top 9th
Joe Burke singled to right center, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Garett Wallace advanced to third. Peter Hutzal scored.
Bottom 9th
Jarrett Backus singled to shortstop, RBI. Nick Lewis advanced to second. Donte Wade advanced to third. Max Law scored.
Pablo Cedeno flied out to cf, SF, RBI. Donte Wade scored, unearned.
All Plays
Top 1st
Joe McNamara grounded out to p.
1 out
Hunter Fornari struck out swinging.
2 out
Mark Townsend grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 1st
Parker Pillsbury lined out to 3b.
1 out
Tate Mathis grounded out to ss.
2 out
Max Law doubled to left center.
Cage Cox grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 2nd
Peter Hutzal grounded out to 2b up the middle.
1 out
Alan Alonso singled to third base.
Rodrigo Montenegro singled to right field. Alan Alonso advanced to third.
Garett Wallace singled to center field, RBI. Rodrigo Montenegro advanced to second. Alan Alonso scored.
Joe Burke infield fly to ss.
2 out
Timothy Dixon reached on a fielder's choice to second base. Garett Wallace out at second 2b to ss.
3 out
Bottom 2nd
Nick Lewis flied out to cf.
1 out
Edward Surinach flied out to cf.
2 out
Jarrett Backus flied out to rf.
3 out
Top 3rd
Joe McNamara grounded out to 2b.
1 out
Hunter Fornari singled to shortstop.
Hunter Fornari stole second.
Hunter Fornari advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Mark Townsend stole second.
Peter Hutzal struck out swinging.
2 out
Alan Alonso grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Bottom 3rd
Pablo Cedeno struck out looking.
1 out
Parker Pillsbury flied out to lf.
2 out
Tate Mathis struck out looking.
3 out
Top 4th
Rodrigo Montenegro walked.
Garett Wallace flied out to rf down the rf line.
1 out
Joe Burke homered to left field, 2 RBI. Rodrigo Montenegro scored.
Timothy Dixon singled through the left side.
Joe McNamara singled to right field. Timothy Dixon advanced to second.
Hunter Fornari grounded into double play 3b to 1b. Timothy Dixon out on the play.
3 out
Bottom 4th
Max Law singled to third base.
Max Law stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error by c.
Cage Cox popped up to ss.
1 out
Nick Lewis singled to third base, RBI. Max Law scored.
Edward Surinach singled up the middle. Nick Lewis advanced to second.
Jarrett Backus singled to right center. Edward Surinach advanced to second. Nick Lewis advanced to third.
Pablo Cedeno grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b. Jarrett Backus out on the play.
3 out
Top 5th
Mark Townsend struck out swinging.
1 out
Peter Hutzal doubled down the rf line.
Jeremiah Foster replaces Ronny Hinton at pitcher.
Rodrigo Montenegro flied out to lf.
2 out
Garett Wallace reached on a fielder's choice to second base. Alan Alonso out at second 2b to ss.
3 out
Bottom 5th
Tanner Clark popped up to 3b.
1 out
Parker Pillsbury lined out to rf.
2 out
Tate Mathis struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 6th
Joe Burke struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b.
1 out
Timothy Dixon struck out swinging.
2 out
Hunter Fornari doubled to left center, RBI. Joe McNamara scored.
Peter Hutzal singled to right field, RBI. Mark Townsend advanced to third. Hunter Fornari scored.
Alan Alonso struck out swinging.
3 out
Bottom 6th
Max Law grounded out to ss.
1 out
Nick Lewis singled down the lf line. Cage Cox advanced to second.
Edward Surinach struck out swinging.
2 out
Jarrett Backus grounded out to 2b.
3 out
Top 7th
Josh Wilson replaces Jeremiah Foster at pitcher.
Rodrigo Montenegro flied out to lf.
1 out
Garett Wallace grounded out to p.
2 out
Joe Burke homered to left field, RBI.
Timothy Dixon struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 7th
Nicholas Chiseri replaces Nathan Palmer at pitcher.
Sean Mootrey replaces Tanner Clark at pinch hitter.
Sean Mootrey walked. Pablo Cedeno advanced to second.
Parker Pillsbury reached on a throwing error by p, SAC, bunt. Sean Mootrey advanced to second. Pablo Cedeno advanced to third.
Tate Mathis struck out swinging.
1 out
Max Law fouled out to c.
2 out
Cage Cox struck out swinging.
3 out
Top 8th
Joe McNamara flied out to rf.
1 out
Hunter Fornari popped up to ss.
2 out
Mark Townsend grounded out to 1b unassisted.
3 out
Bottom 8th
Brandon Castle replaces Nicholas Chiseri at pitcher.
Nick Lewis grounded out to ss.
1 out
Edward Surinach grounded out to 1b unassisted.
2 out
Jarrett Backus hit by pitch.
Pablo Cedeno walked. Jarrett Backus advanced to second.
Sean Mootrey replaces at designated hitter.
Sean Mootrey singled to center field, RBI. Pablo Cedeno advanced to second. Jarrett Backus scored, unearned.
Parker Pillsbury singled down the 3b line, RBI. Sean Mootrey advanced to second. Pablo Cedeno scored, unearned.
Tate Mathis struck out looking.
3 out
Top 9th
Peter Hutzal singled to right field.
Alan Alonso struck out swinging.
1 out
Peter Hutzal advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Rodrigo Montenegro struck out swinging.
2 out
Garett Wallace hit by pitch.
Joe Burke singled to right center, advanced to second on the throw, RBI. Garett Wallace advanced to third. Peter Hutzal scored.
Timothy Dixon struck out looking.
3 out
Bottom 9th
Cage Cox reached on a fielding error by 2b. Max Law advanced to second.
Donte Wade replaces Cage Cox at .
Nick Lewis singled to right field. Donte Wade advanced to second. Max Law advanced to third.
Edward Surinach struck out looking.
1 out
Jarrett Backus singled to shortstop, RBI. Nick Lewis advanced to second. Donte Wade advanced to third. Max Law scored.
Pablo Cedeno flied out to cf, SF, RBI. Donte Wade scored, unearned.
2 out
Robbie Scott replaces Jarrett Backus at .
Sean Mootrey reached on a fielder's choice to second base. Robbie Scott out at second 2b to ss.
3 out
