The Lightning Split the Doubleheader Against the Squeeze Picking up a Game 2 Win

Winter Garden, Fla- In game one of the doubleheader, Lightning pitching had another outing where they struggled in just one inning apart from the rest. Game two saw the pitching staff shine which allowed for the bats to get going, securing the 10th win of the season.
 
Game 1: 
 
After a scoreless first inning, Leesburg would get on the board first in the 2nd after an error in center field off the bat of RF Marco Mueses scored extra hitter Reid Snider to make it 1-0. 
 
Starting LHP Ethan Barrett would also run into trouble in the 2nd beginning with a 2 RBI double to give Winter Garden a 2-1 lead. A hit by pitch followed by a fielder's choice and an error at third would bring home 3 more runs, extending the Squeeze lead to 5-1. A groundout would then make it a 6-1 lead for the Squeeze heading to the 3rd.
 
The Lightning would get two quality innings from RHP Austin Peddycoart who gave up just one hit and got 3 punchouts. RHP Cade Mattison threw a scoreless 6th inning allowing just one hit while striking out one batter. 
 
The offense went silent since its lone run in the 2nd, putting together small rally’s that were eventually shut down by Squeeze pitching. Winter Garden would capture the 7 inning win as Leesburg looked to regroup going into game 2. 
 
Game 2: 
 
Both pitching staffs would get off to a sound start, throwing up zeroes through the first two frames. Just like in game one though, the Lightning would strike first in the 2nd after an error by the catcher allowed CF Julian Irizarry to score. An RBI groundout by 3B Ryan Jenkins added another run, quickly giving Leesburg a 2-0 lead. 
 
Like they did in game one, Winter Garden would get that run back in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly off LHP Nicholas Delnegro, who came on to relieve RHP Lucas Perez. A 2 RBI single then put the Squeeze in front 3-2 with two of the runs charged to Perez. 
 
Delnegro would go on to pitch two more scoreless innings before the bats provided him some run support in the 6th. With the bases loaded and one out, 1B Juan Orozco tied the game at 3-3 with his sacrifice fly. A two out rally would ensue as pinch runner Ledger Pleasant scored from a throwing error, giving Leesburg the 4-3 lead. With two on and two out again, 2B TJ Socarras would mash a ball over the left field wall for a three-run homer, extending the Lightning lead to 7-3.
In the bottom of the inning, RHP Jose Paniagua struck out the side before getting even more run support in the 7th. 
 
With two on and two out for extra hitter Trey Craft, the catcher would single which brought both runners home, extending the lead to 9-3. Craft then came around to score after a pass ball from the catcher, which made it 10-4 with the Squeeze down to their final three outs. 
 
Winter Garden would give Paniagua some trouble in the 7th, plating a run from a single that made it 10-4. The flame-throwing righty then got a groundout to short which put the game away, giving the Lightning their 10th victory of the season. 
 
Coach Billings spoke on how the team can start to find some balance between the offense and defense so that both sides can help each other out going forward.
 
“It’s really just all about preparation, I got a little frustrated at the hitters for a lack of preparation,” said Billings. “It's just about showing up and being prepared to do your job and we didn’t do a great job of that in game one but i felt like we got it together in game 2.” 
 
After a slow start at the plate to begin the season, Socarras talked about how good it felt to find the sweet spot and barrel up his first home run.
 
“I was able to adjust finally, not hitting during the college season was kind of tough for me,” said Socarras. “I wasn’t going up there looking for a home run, I was just trying to get those runners in, trying to attack the fastball early and I got it first pitch, and I was able to connect.”
 
The Lightning head back home to face the Squeeze again on Saturday June 21. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Pat Thomas Stadium. 
 
Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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