sfoggi posted on July 03, 2011 20:06
DELAND, Fla. (July 3, 2011) – The DeLand Suns (11-11) topped the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs (13-5) for the second day in a row with a 5-2 victory at Melching Field at Conrad Park.
The Diamond Dawgs out hit the Suns, eight to five, but made four errors in the loss.
Winter Park starting pitcher Ben Brown (University of Tampa) went 6 2/3 innings, giving up just four hits and striking out four.
“He got ahead early and kept us in the game,” said Assistant Coach Scott Hilinski.
Even though Brown was credited with giving up five runs, only one was earned. His counterpart, Daniel Sanchez (St. Thomas) tossed eight innings and gave up two runs.
“[Sanchez] got ahead and worked quickly,” said Hilinski. “We have to tip our cap, [Sanchez] pitched well.”
The Dawgs struck first with a run in the top of the third inning. Stephen Holden (Lake Sumter Community College) got himself in scoring position with a one-out double to left center field. Holden came around to score on a two-out Dustin DeMuth (Indiana University) single.
The Suns answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. Blake Prince (University of North Florida) reached base to lead off the inning with a hit by pitch. Myles Smith (Miami Dade College) then hit a triple to right center to tie things at one. Smith eventually scored on an error.
However, the pitching duel between Sanchez and Brown would continue into the seventh inning.
Brad Hutton (Ohio State University) started things off for the Dawgs with a walk. Omar Cotto (University of Southern California) then entered the game as a pinch runner for Hutton. Cotto would eventually advance to second base. Patrick McGavin (University of Alabama) followed with a double into right center and would make the second out at third base as he was thrown out on the play trying to stretch it into a triple. Winter Park did not score another run in the inning, tying things at 2-2.
“It was the right call,” said Hilinski. “They made a great play.”
In the bottom of the inning, the Suns would score three runs on three hits and two errors, as they pulled ahead 5-2 in the late goings.
Winter Park began the top of the eighth with a single to center field by Mike Reed (Auburn University). During the next at-bat, Head Coach Kevin Davidson was ejected from the game for reasons that were unclear. Reed was then erased in a double play, and the Dawgs did not close the gap on the Suns lead.
“This is the first time, in back to back games, that we’ve had adversity,” said Hilinski. “We just need to tighten up.”
The Diamond Dawgs started off the ninth with back-to-back singles, but could not tie the game to send it to extra innings.
“I think you learn better lessons when you fail,” said Hilinski.
This is the first time all season that the Diamond Dawgs have lost consecutive games, as they will now slip to second place.
“We’re not going to change our mentality, and we’re going to keep playing our game,” said Hilinski.
Winter Park will be at home Tuesday, July 5 against the Leesburg Lightning. The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m.
Mitchell Adams (UCF)