sfoggi posted on June 05, 2011 17:42
LEESBURG, Fla. (June 5, 2011) – In their first road contest of the season, the Winter Haven Loggerheads suffered an 11-5 loss to the Leesburg Lightning on Sunday afternoon at Pat Thomas Stadium. Winter Haven drops to 1-2 on the season, while Leesburg improves to 3-0 to lead to the Florida League.
Facing a 5-0 deficit early in the contest, the Winter Haven Loggerheads bounced back to score four runs in the top of the second, 5-4. Sam Halpern (Barry), Wes Perkins (Millsaps College), Jonathan Hall (Trinity), and Spencer Judge (Saint Joseph’s) each scored runs for the Loggerheads.
Winter Haven starting pitcher Clayton Freimuth (Trinity) struggled on the mound giving up a single and two walks to load the bases to start off the bottom of the second. Freimuth would gave up another four runs to extend the Lightning’s lead, 9-4, and would be charged with the loss tossing 3 2/3 innings. The southpaw gave up nine of the 12 Leesburg hits.
The Lightning pitching staff would keep the Loggerheads off the board through four innings before Winter Haven would have a chance to score in the top of the seventh. Designated hitter and pitcher Kyle Campbell (Stetson) would score in the seventh after reaching on a single and advancing to second on a throwing error by the Lightning’s second baseman. He later scored on a groundout to second.
Andrew Sterling (Dickinson College), Michael Heller (Florida), and Kyle Campbell (Stetson) each had a hit and an RBI, while Sean O’Grady (Benedictine College) and Sam Halpern (Barry) added a knock apiece.
The Lightning were led by Chase Durham (Howard College) as he was 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Christian Coburn (College of Central Florida) and Hunter Mayfield (Rollins College) each had two hits off the Loggerheads. Left-handed reliever Danny Dixon (Brevard CC) would get the winning nod for the Lightning tossing three complete innings on the mound.
Winter Haven will continue with their two-game road swing as the Loggerheads head to Sanford, Fla. to face the River Rats on Tuesday, June 7. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.