sfoggi posted on July 19, 2011 20:59
LEESBURG, Fla. (July 19, 2011) - For the second time in as many contests against the Leesburg Lightning, the Orlando Freedom were sent home in blowout fashion. The Freedom fell 9-4 Tuesday night, as the first place Lightning took the game handily.
Leesburg got on the board early and often picking up seven runs in the first three innings. Orlando pitching struggled to find the plate all night walking seven Lightning batters, while hitting two.
The Freedom got on the board immediately in the first inning. A pair of hits by Kevin Lehane (Jacksonville) and Lawrence Pardo (Santa Fe) was followed by a two-out Chris Suto (Lake Sumter CC) base hit to plate the first run of the contest.
The Lightning, not to be outdone, struck back in the bottom half of the inning. Thanks in part to five free passes, three walks and two hit batsmen, Leesburg brought home four runs to open up the contest 4-1. The home team broke it open in the third, tacking on three more runs to grab a commanding 7-1 lead.
The Freedom were not content to head home quietly as they picked up two runs in the sixth on an AJ Mackey (Gulf Coast CC) single to bring home Suto and a wild pitch that plated Jason Anderson (Brevard CC). Orlando added another in the seventh when Lehane blasted a double over the Lightning left fielder’s head to knock in Zack Houck (Jacksonville).
The Lightning kept control of the game in the sixth and seventh, however, scoring a run in each inning to bring the score through seven to 9-4.
Starting Lightning pitcher Nic Kovacs (Lake Sumter CC) held the Freedom at bay all night to grab his fourth win of the season. Kovacs started the last time these two squads did battle, winning that contest, as well.
The Freedom were led by the bat of Kevin Lehane. Lehane racked up four hits in the game, knocking in and scoring one. Pardo and Suto each grabbed two hits, as well. Starting pitcher Ronnie Schreurs (Daytona St.) picked up his third loss of the season.
Orlando will be back in action Wednesday, July 20 against the Sanford River Rats, as the Freedom attempt to continue to break away from the Rats and the Winter Haven Loggerheads in that last place spot. Game time Wednesday, back home at Orel Hershiser Field, is set for 7 p.m.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)