Lightning Rally Past River Rats, Improve to 19-7

LEESBURG, Fla. – The Leesburg Lightning used a three-run sixth inning and another strong pitching performance to rally past the Sanford River Rats, 4-3, on Friday night at Pat Thomas Stadium, improving to 19-7 on the season.

Gavin Dicks turned in one of his best outings of the summer, holding Sanford scoreless over 4 1/3 innings while allowing just three hits and striking out six.

Leesburg broke a scoreless tie in the third inning without recording an RBI. After Andon Gray reached base and advanced to third, Turner Gross lined a double into the right-center field gap. A throwing error by the River Rats' second baseman allowed Gray to score and gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

Sanford answered in the fifth against reliever Austin MacCardle. Tyler Meyer tied the game with an RBI single before Jaden Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly to put the River Rats ahead. Caleb Scott followed with an RBI single later in the inning as Sanford built a 3-1 advantage.

The Lightning responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth.

Preston Murphy opened the inning with a single before Dylan Green reached on an error. KT Thompson delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to one, and Daniel Despaine tied the game with an RBI fielder's choice. Moments later, Despaine stole second and advanced to third on another throwing error while Thompson raced home on the play, giving Leesburg a 4-3 lead.

The bullpen made the advantage stand. Andre Bilbao Jr. worked a scoreless seventh inning before JD Aragort escaped trouble in the eighth. Ryan Perzanowski struck out two in a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.

Despite collecting only five hits, the Lightning drew seven walks and took advantage of five Sanford errors. Thompson finished with an RBI and a stolen base, while Gross and Despaine each doubled. Murphy reached base four times, going 1-for-1 with three walks and scoring the tying run in the decisive sixth inning.

The victory was Leesburg's 19th of the season as it prepares to host the DeLand Suns on Saturday, July 4, at Pat Thomas Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Adam Rothschild (Susquehanna University)