Leesburg Splits Doubleheader With DeLand
| Final (11) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
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1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 3 |
DELAND, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning split a doubleheader with the DeLand Suns on Thursday at Conrad Park. The day began with the completion of a suspended game from June 13 before the two teams played their regularly scheduled contest, with Leesburg falling 5-4 in 11 innings in the resumed game before responding with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap.
The suspended game resumed in the top of the fifth inning after weather halted play on June 13 with DeLand leading 4-1.
Leesburg chipped away immediately as Preston Murphy delivered an RBI single in the fifth to score Marcello Cortale. Bryan Burtoft, who took over on the mound when play resumed, was outstanding, tossing six innings while allowing just one hit and keeping the Lightning within striking distance.
Charlie Keller brought Leesburg within one with a solo home run in the seventh before Matt Dumas tripled to begin the ninth. Turner Gross lifted a sacrifice fly to score Dumas and tie the game at 4-4, forcing extra innings.
The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the 11th, when DeLand loaded the bases and Nic Partridge lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing home the winning run as the Suns claimed the resumed contest, 5-4.
Just hours later, the Lightning bounced back in the regularly scheduled game behind another strong effort from the offense and pitching staff.
Leesburg opened the scoring in the second inning on Ledger Pleasant's sacrifice fly before Andon Gray lined a two-run single in the fourth to extend the lead to 3-0.
Bryce Gluckman struck out seven over four innings before Josh Cone added two scoreless frames with four strikeouts in relief.
DeLand rallied in the seventh, scoring three runs to take its first lead of the game at 4-3 after Nate Ricko's two-run double was followed by a throwing error that allowed another run to score.
The Lightning answered immediately. Charlie Keller crushed a game-tying solo home run in the eighth before Marcello Cortale led off the ninth with a solo shot to left field, giving Leesburg the lead for good.
Carson Henrikson closed out the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the victory, preserving the 5-4 win and helping the Lightning finish the day with an 18-7 record.
The Lightning return home Friday to host the Sanford River Rats at Pat Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Leesburg enters the matchup with a perfect 6-0 record against Sanford this season.
Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)