The Lightning Win 3-2 After a Walk-Off Error in Extra Innings

Leesburg, Fla- It was another pitcher’s duel at Pat Thomas Stadium that saw just 4 total runs come across through 9 frames. Coach Billings used 6 different pitchers to get the job done in the team's second one-run victory of the season. 
 
RHP Zachary Murkin looked sharp in his 4 innings of scoreless ball, giving up just one hit and one walk. The righty was provided with some early run support in the 2nd inning after RF Charlie Keller got a hold of a fastball sending it over the right field wall. Keller’s two run blast gave the Lightning a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd. 
 
Later in the 6th, Riley Fitzgerald ran into some trouble starting with a throwing error at second base that allowed the Suns to score their first run. Deland then tied it up at 2-2 after an RBI single brought home another run.
 
Leesburg would get some more solid innings of relief out of RHP TJ Socarras and LHP Nick Delnegro who both got out of some tricky jams to keep the game tied. 
 
In the 8th, the Lightning had two on with nobody out before an attempted sacrifice bunt resulted in the extra hitter Reid Snider getting thrown out at third by Suns pitcher William Rollings. Rollings would then get a strikeout and groundout to eliminate the threat and send things to the 9th. 
 
Coach Billings' squad had another chance in the 9th when 2B Ledger Pleasant roped a leadoff double down the 3rd base line. Julian Irizarry came in to pinch hit and was able to move Pleasant over with a groundout to second, which put the winning run 90 feet away. Unfortunately, Deland would get a lineout and a groundout to send the game into extra innings. 
 
RHP Jose Paniagua was tasked with keeping the game knotted at 2-2 in the 10th with a runner put aboard at second to begin the inning. The flame-throwing righty struck out his first batter before getting back-to-back groundouts to keep the game tied. 
 
With Ryan Jenkins in to pinch run for 3B Juan Orozco, 1B James Strom was due up first in the bottom of the 10th inning the winning run in scoring position. Strom would work the count to eventually see a payoff pitch that he grounded to second. Suns second baseman Osmin Melendez would field it cleanly before throwing it past the first baseman allowing Ryan Jenkins to score the walk-off run. After 10 innings, the Lightning came out on top 3-2, improving to 6-4 on the year and moving into second place in the Florida League standings. 
 
With rainouts on both Monday and Wednesday followed by lightning not allowing Leesburg to hit on the field prior to today's game, Coach Billings discussed how hard it is for his players to stay ready to play. 

“One of the interesting things about the Florida League is you show up every day ready to play and then you have a lightning delay,” said Billings. “And then you show up the next day and you don’t think you are going to play, and the game doesn’t start till 9 o’clock and then you show up for a make-up game and that gets rained out. I think mentally that's a tough adjustment for our players to make, especially for our hitters because you have to get a little amped up to perform.”
 
Coming into the game, half of Charlie Kellers hits were doubles that were close to getting over the wall, but his two-run shot in the 2nd was a no doubter. 
 
“It was awesome, I haven’t played baseball in a year because of injury,” said Keller. “It’s taken a second to finally find that swing, but when I did it, I was pretty excited, and I knew it was gone. It really made me want to win that much more because at the end of the day home runs don’t matter if you don’t come out with a win.” 
 
Leesburg will go for the series win on Friday June 12 in Deland. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Melching Field. 

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)

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