Leesburg, Fla- Even though the pitching staff struggled tonight, it was the wasted opportunities on the offensive side that did the team in. The Lightning stranded 11 runners on the base paths and failed to put together big enough rallies to jump out to a sizable lead. 

Starting RHP TJ Socarras (Pitt) got into trouble early in the 1st after DeLand made it 1-0 with an RBI groundout. 

The struggles would continue for the righty as the Suns tacked on in the 2nd after an RBI double followed by a wild pitch extended the lead to 3-0. 

This time, Leesburg was able to answer in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly from SS Grant Jordan (Pasco-Hernando St) to make it 3-1. 

In the 3rd, the Suns would add another run after an RBI single made it 4-1 as Socarras continued to run into trouble. 

Just like the inning before, Coach Billings' squad would respond, this time starting with an error by the Suns catcher that allowed CF Elijah Thurmond (Florida Southern) to score. C Cole Bullen (UF) then put the score at 4-3 after his sacrifice fly brough home another run. 

LHP Gunnar Plante (Undecided) came on in relief and was able to throw up some zeroes in his two innings on the bump. Plante gave up just 1 hit and struck out 2 batters before he would be relieved by newcomer RHP Scout Updike (Jacksonville U) who threw one scoreless inning. 

Leesburg started to chip away at the lead in the 6th starting with an RBI double from extra hitter Charlie Keller (Ball St). Jordan would pick up another RBI after grounding out to third to give the Lightning the 5-4 lead. 

The lead only lasted until the 8th when DeLand’s Gavin Thomas smashed a solo home run over the left field wall to tie it at 5-5. 

In the 8th and 9th, Leesburg was unable to mount a rally and would go down quietly, sending the game into extras. 

LHP Ethan Barrett was called on to keep the game tied in the 10th, but he surrendered a two-run homer to Gavin Thomas, putting the Lightning behind 7-5 with just three outs remaining.

In the bottom of the inning, Bullen, who was placed at second to begin the frame, was able to score after a throwing error from the catcher. With the bases clear for the middle of the order, the Suns would get a 1-2-3 inning to seal the game, beating Leesburg 7-6. 

Coach Billings talked about how the offense needed to be more successful at getting runners in after DeLand committed 6 errors on the night. 

“A lot of wasted opportunities on offense tonight, our hitters got to do a better job of getting guys in from third base,” said Billings. “Especially when the other team makes 6 errors, you’ve got to take advantage of that, and we just didn’t. On the pitching side, we got 3 leadoff hitters out the whole night in 10 innings, so you’re not going to win many games if you can’t get leadoff hitters out.”

The Lightning will play a make-up game on Wednesday July 2 against Sanford. First pitch is set for 6:30 at Sanford Memorial Stadium. For potential updates regarding changes to the game’s time or location, please visit the Lightning’s website or social media.

 Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)