Orlando, Fla- Despite two home runs from the Lightning offense, the Snappers hit two themselves along with three more extra-base hits. Even with the five runs, the Leesburg offense had still had a couple of wasted opportunities with runners in scoring position throughout the game. 

Starting RHP Austin Peddycoart (Southeastern U) tossed a scoreless first frame with a 1-2-3 inning before he would get some run support.

In the 2nd, SS Ledger Pleasant (St. Johns River St) laid down a sacrifice bunt which allowed both runners to move into scoring position with extra hitter Trey Craft (FAMU) coming up to the plate. Craft then grounded out to the first baseman which plated the first run, giving Leesburg an early 1-0 lead. 

Orlando answered back in the bottom of the inning with a solo blast that tied the game at 1-1. 

Later in the 4th after Peddycoart was relieved, the Snappers added on with another solo home run off RHP Scout Updike (Jacksonville U) to take a 2-1 lead. 

The Lightning were able to answer in the top of the 5th when C Nicholas Wrubluski (Webster U) sent a solo shot over the left field wall to tie it up at 2-2. With only one extra-base hit entering the night, Wrubluski broke through with his first home run of the season.

Just like in the 2nd inning, Orlando would answer back in the bottom of the 5th starting with an RBI single followed by an error by C Cole Bullen (UF) which allowed another run to score. With RHP Carson Henrikson (Hillsborough CC) in to relieve Updike, the righty would allow an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly that extended the Snappers lead to 6-2. 

That four-run lead would be short-lived as the Lightning got a leadoff walk followed by a single in the 6th before Pleasant dealt a heavy blow. The shortstop shot a ball out to left center for a 3-run homer to cut the deficit down to just one, making it a 6-5 ball game. 

The middle innings then turned into a slugfest with the Snappers putting up another crooked number in the bottom of the inning. RHP Blake Tipmore (Rollins College) struggled once he was put in, giving up a bloop single that brought home two runs. The righty then allowed another RBI base hit which extended the Orlando lead to 9-5. 

Pitching struggles would continue into the later innings with the Snapper picking up a pair of runs in the 8th after a 2 RBI triple made it 11-5 heading into the 9th.

Orlando was able to work around a leadoff walk and a two out single in the 9th to pick up a crucial 11-5 victory over Leesburg. 

The Lightning travel back to Orlando on Friday, July 18 in hopes of forcing a rubber match on Saturday to decide who receives the second seed in the playoffs. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at The First Academy. 

Vic Maslia (Syracuse University)