LEESBURG, Fla. - Late-inning heroics made all the difference as the DeLand Suns (9-15) claimed a tight 7-6, come from behind win over the Leesburg Lightning (14-8).

In their third visit to Pat Thomas Stadium this season, the Suns found themselves down late in a close one against Leesburg. They had come close in previous visits, but ultimately fell short as the Lightning manufactured two walk-off wins in DeLand’s two previous visits this season. Down 5-4 in the eighth, the Suns needed something to keep their hopes of pulling out of this one alive. That something came in the form of Gavin Thomas (Davidson). Up to that point, Thomas was 0-3 on the day with two strikeouts and would leadoff the inning. With the second pitch of the at-bat, Thomas launched a no-doubter over the left-field wall to tie the game at five all.

Following the game-tying homer, William Rollings (Florida Tech) took over on the mound and shut the door on the Leesburg offense, only allowing a hit and retiring the side in order in the ninth to take his team into extras. In the 10th, with one gone and a runner on, Thomas came in clutch again with another home run to put his team up by two. The round-tripper marks Thomas’ fifth of the season and fourth in as many games. Rollings came back out in the bottom of the inning to finish the Lightning off, and after the ghost runner scored off an E2, recorded a 1-2-3 inning to secure the win.

Both Thomas’ and Rollings performances were enough to receive Player and Pitcher of the Night recognition. 

“Waz (William Rollings) shut the door and Gavin Thomas was pretty special tonight. He (Thomas) played a great left field and had two great swings after struggling earlier in the game and really was the deciding player in the game.” - Coach Cameron Jergens

The Suns struck early, Eli Tidwell (Undecided) just missed one as he bounced one off the top of the wall to leadoff the game with a triple. Michael O’Brien (Kaskaskia CC) brought him in with an RBI groundout. DeLand tacked on two more in the second, with Judson Ceyanes (Trevecca Nazarene) scoring on a Holden Brauner (Undecided) double, and Brauner scoring off a wild pitch. In the fourth, the Suns made it a 4-1 ballgame after O’Brien reached off a hit-by-bitch, stole both second and third, and was eventually brought in by a Ceyanes single

The Leesburg Lightning kept up despite falling behind early, a SAC fly got them on the board in the second. DeLand didn’t make it easy on themselves either, as six defensive errors on the night allowed Leesburg to capitalize with runners on. Leesburg made it a one run ball game in the fourth, bringing two across and eventually took the lead in the sixth with another two run frame. 

The DeLand Suns bullpen picked up its defense despite the six errors. Stephen Cherepanya (Rollins College) went the distance out of the pen, dealing 5.0 innings with two earned runs off of five hits, striking out four along the way. Rollins closed the game out, punching out four and only allowing a hit in three innings of work. 

“We want to win. We want to play in the playoffs and keep playing.” - Gavin Thomas

The DeLand Suns are back in action Thursday, July 3, as they face the Leesburg Lightning at Conrad Park at 5:00 pm. 

Adrian Delgado (Central Florida)