Leesburg, Fla- It was a clean 1-2-3 first inning that made all the difference in a dominant game on both sides of the ball. It took the Lightning just 8 hits to push across 10 runs that all came in the first four frames.  

Winter Park struck first in the 2nd after a throwing error by LHP Dustin Dunlap (Mars Hill) during an attempted pick off to second allowed the first run to score, making it 1-0. 

In the bottom of the inning, a double steal by LF Julian Irizarry (Pitt) and C Trey Craft (FAMU) put runners at second and third with two outs. SS Ryan Jenkins (Carson-Newman) then knocked them in with a single that gave the team a 2-1 lead. 

The Lightning would add on to their lead in the 3rd starting with an RBI double to the left center gap from RF Charlie Keller (Ball St) that scored a run. Shortly after, Craft walked with the bases loaded which brought another run home making it a 4-1 game. Back-to-back wild pitches saw 3B Reid Snider (LA Tech) and Irizarry score, extending the lead to 6-1. Jenkins added on to his stellar night with another RBI single followed by a double from extra hitter Marco Mueses (U of New Orleans) that plated two more run, putting the score at 9-1. 

In the 4th, Irizarry knocked in 1B James Strom (Southeastern U) with an RBI single which extended the Lightning lead to 10-1. 

Leesburg would continue to get some quality innings from its bullpen with RHP Bryan Burtoft (Holy Family U) and RHP Cade Mattison (U of Memphis) both throwing scoreless frames in the 4th and 5th. 

RHP Carson Henrikson (Hillsborough CC) was the first reliever to run into trouble in the 6th. After recording back-to-back strikeouts, the righty gave up consecutive RBI singles that made it 10-3 game and erased the chance of a mercy rule finish going into the 7th.

Winter Park was able to shut down the Leesburg offense in the later innings but would struggle to mount a comeback against a solid Lightning bullpen. 

RHP Blake Tipmore (Rollins College) and RHP Tanner Walker (FAMU) both threw scoreless frames, racking up 5 combined strikeouts while allowing just 1 hit. 

In the 9th, RHP Jose Paniagua (College of Central FL) came on to seal the deal and after loading the bases with 3 walks, the flamethrower got a groundout to give the Lightning the 10-3 victory. 

Coach Billings discussed how sharp the bullpen has been and how its crucial for the starting pitchers to have clean first innings. 

“I think the bullpen has been a bright spot for us,” said Billings. “Any time the starting pitcher throws up a zero in the first inning, I think we're going to have a chance to win. As long as our hitters can continue to provide cover for our pitchers, it's a lot easier for them to go out and do their job when they have a big lead.”

Ryan Jenkins touched on how he's feeling after a 3-hit night with 3 RBIs and a handful of putouts in the infield. 

“I'm feeling good, I'm just trying to put together good at bats and make the routine plays for my team and just trying to help get a win,” said Jenkins. “I’ve been putting in some work, trying to figure out my swing and trying to find the barrel and it feels great to have a three-hit night.”

Leesburg travels to Winter Garden for a single-game meeting on Sunday, July 6 before the All-Star break. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Horizon High School. 

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)