sfoggi posted on July 02, 2011 21:40
DELAND, Fla. (July 2, 2011) - The DeLand Suns (10-11) snapped the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (13-4) five-game win streak with a 5-4 victory at Melching Field at Conrad Park on Saturday.
“They were all tough outs tonight,” said second baseman Spencer Haynes (University of Central Florida). “They continuously fought back at the plate.”
It was a close contest all the way through as both teams battled all game long, but the Suns took advantage of their opportunities in their come from behind effort. DeLand out hit Winter Park 10 to five, as none of the top four hitters in the Diamond Dawgs line-up was able to get a hit.
However, the Dawgs missed an early opportunity in the top of the second inning. They had the bases loaded with two outs, but could not push a run across.
Still, the Diamond Dawgs would get on the board first. In the top of the fourth inning, B.J. Zimmerman (University of Tampa) led things off with a double to right field. Alex Cruz (Georgia Tech) followed that with a single to right field, plating Zimmerman. After a Brad Hutton (Ohio State University) walk, Haynes hit a single to left field, scoring Cruz. Winter Park scored two more runs in the inning as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead and nearly batted around.
The Suns responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth as they chipped away at the Dawgs lead.
Winter Park starting pitcher Jake Fisher (University of Oklahoma) would leave the game in the sixth inning with a 4-2 lead, but the Suns spoiled his chance at a win by tying the game at four a piece. DeLand took the lead with a suicide squeeze laid down by Brandon Turner (Bethune Cookman).
Fisher went five innings, while scattering six hits and striking out four.
“He went out there and competed,” said Head Coach Kevin Davidson.
DeLand reliever Montana DuRapau (Bethune Cookman) got the win in relief as he tossed 4 2/3 innings, while surrendering just one hit and allowing no runs to score.
The Suns threatened to score once again in the seventh inning, but failed to tack on an insurance run.
The Dawgs did not go down easily, as they managed to get runners in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but did not pull through.
DeLand got a boost from their newest addition, Casey Mulholland (Ole Miss). Mulholland was 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and two runs scored, while also closing out the game for the Suns for his first save of the season.
“The bottom-line is they just came out and beat us today,” said Davidson.
The Diamond Dawgs will visit the Suns for the second day in a row on Sunday, July 3. The game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)