Sanford steals Game One with Lightning Facing Elimination

Leesburg, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning will have to win on the road to keep their season alive after falling 8-4 to the Sanford River Rats in Game One of the Florida Collegiate Summer League Championship Series Saturday night at Pat Thomas Stadium. 

Sanford seized control with a three-run third inning before breaking the game open with four more runs in the fourth. Nick Upperman put the River Rats on the board with a solo home run, and Jordan Marlo followed later in the inning with a two-run double to make it 3-0. An inning later, an RBI single by AJ Seymour and a three-run homer from Michael Dobkowski stretched the lead to 7-0. While only three of Sanford's eight runs were earned, the River Rats capitalized on defensive miscues by the Lightning to take command early. 

Leesburg finally answered in the bottom of the fourth. Preston Murphy singled and Charlie Keller reached before Turner Gross lined a two-run double into center field to cut the deficit to 7-2. The Lightning chipped away again in the sixth when Matthew Dumas reached and eventually scored on an RBI groundout by Andon Gray, trimming the lead to 7-3. 

Sanford added an insurance run in the eighth after a throwing error allowed Tyler Meyer to score. Leesburg answered in the bottom half on Preston Murphy's sacrifice fly, but the comeback stalled as the Lightning were held to just three hits on the night. 

Turner Gross led the Lightning offense with a two-run double, while Preston Murphy went one for two and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Hayden Gustavson recorded Leesburg's third hit, and Matthew Dumas scored twice while stealing a base. 

Bryan Burtoft was charged with the loss after allowing six runs and three earned over 3.2 innings. Josh Cone struck out six over 2.1 innings in relief, while Andre Bilbao Jr. and Ethon Tesmer combined to finish the game. 

Chase Marsh earned the win for Sanford, striking out seven over 5.2 innings while allowing just two hits. The River Rats bullpen surrendered only one hit over the final 3.1 innings to secure the victory. 

With the loss, the Lightning now face elimination in the best of three championship series. Game Two shifts to Sanford, where Leesburg will need a win to force a decisive Game Three and keep its championship hopes alive.  

Game Two of the FCSL Championship series between Leesburg and Sanford will take place on Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 PM at Sanford Memorial Stadium. 

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University) 

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