sfoggi posted on June 16, 2011 19:48
LEESBURG, Fla. (June 16, 2011) - The Orlando Freedom scored four runs in the eighth inning of Thursday night’s contest versus the Leesburg Lightning (9-1), but the runs were not enough as the squad fell 8-4, dropping their sixth straight game.
It didn’t take the Lightning long to jump on top in the game. In the bottom of the first inning, Hunter Mayfield (Rollins College), the Florida League leader in runs batted in, knocked a one-out double down the first base line with two runners aboard, and the Lightning took a 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Tim Koons (Fort Scott CC) settled after a rocky first inning, pitching the next four innings scoreless. Koons (0-2) was charged with the loss tossing five innings, giving up two runs on four hits, and recorded two strikeouts.
Scoring was halted in the contest until the sixth inning when the Lightning struck again. A hit batter followed by an error left two aboard for Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic), who laced a single up the middle to drive in a run and push the score to 3-0.
After recording the first out of the sixth inning, Lightning leadoff hitter Troy Drummond (Delaware St.) drew a walk to load the bases. Zane Evans (Georgia Tech) followed with a walk to plate in a run, an error allowed Mayfield to reach base, scoring another, and a wild pitch brought in the fourth run of the inning. An infield single added one more and left the Freedom staring at a 7-0 deficit.
For the Lightning, strong pitching was the story. Leesburg pitchers Micah Kellogg (Flagler College) and Ethan Bader (Lake Sumter) dominated the contest, going seven total innings, giving up no runs on just three hits. Kellogg (2-0) grabbed his second victory on the year.
The Freedom got on the board in the eighth inning as back-to-back singles by Anthony Caronia (Tampa) and Zack Houck (Jacksonville), followed by an Aaron Spragg (Lipscomb) walk loaded the bases. Infield singles by Kevin Lehane (Jacksonville) and Chris Suto (Lake Sumter CC) drove in the first two runs. A Matt Frank (Jacksonville) sac fly and a Robbie Haben (George Washington) single brought in a run apiece pushed the score to 7-4 and Orlando trailed by just three.
The Freedom rally in the eighth came up short, however, as Leesburg added one more in the bottom of the inning before setting the Freedom down in the ninth to close out the 8-4 victory.
Lehane and Caronia led the way for the Freedom offense, both picking up two hits. Lehane knocked in and scored a run. Caronia scored once, as well.
The Freedom return home Friday (June 17) to Orel Hershiser Field at The First Academy to take on the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (7-2). The Diamond Dawgs have bested the Freedom three times already on the season. Game time is slated for 7 pm.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)