Diamond Dawgs Walked Off by Lightning in Leesburg
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
LEESBURG, Fla.- The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to the Leesburg Lightning on Saturday night at Pat Thomas Stadium, as the Lightning walked it off in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Winter Park jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Skyler Jersey delivered a two-run double to center field, bringing home Jacob Pearl and Colton Musgrave to put the Dawgs ahead 2-0. Leesburg answered with an unearned run in the second, but the Dawgs regained a two-run advantage in the third when Musgrave drove in Osmin Melendez on a fielder's choice.
The Dawgs added another insurance run in the sixth inning when Nikola Mezzanotte singled to right field to score Daniel Irizarry, extending the lead to 4-1. Mezzanotte finished a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while Pearl led the offense with two hits.
Leesburg mounted its comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Hudson Reed launched a two-run home run to left field before Jack Waddingham tied the game with an RBI double later in the inning.
After both teams were held scoreless over the next two innings, the Lightning completed the comeback in the ninth. Dylan Green reached base and eventually scored the winning run on Cory Banasiak's RBI single through the right side, giving Leesburg a 5-4 walk-off victory.
Winter Park outhit Leesburg, 8-5, on the night. Pearl went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Melendez, Jersey, Irizarry, Clay Mitchell, and Mezzanotte each recorded a hit. Jersey drove in two runs to pace the offense.
On the mound, Presley Woodson started for the Dawgs and allowed just one hit and one unearned run over 3.2 innings. Knute Rockey worked 1.2 innings in relief, while Nick Burgos was charged with the loss after surrendering the winning run in the ninth.
The loss drops the Diamond Dawgs to 0-2 on the young Florida League season, while Leesburg improved to 2-0. The Dawgs will conclude the three-game series against the Lightning at home at Alfond Stadium on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
Justin Baltes (University of Central Florida)