Suns Start Season with Road Victory

WINTER GARDEN, Fla.- The DeLand Suns finally got their season underway, posting a 5-1 win over the Winter Garden Squeeze in their season opener.

The first two innings went scoreless before the Suns broke through with three runs in the top of the third. With one out, Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) reached on a single, and Richard Collazo (Eastern Florida State) was hit by a pitch, giving DeLand its first offensive pressure against Winter Garden pitcher Austin Liss (Valdosta State). With two runners aboard, Shane Thomas (Undecided) singled on the first pitch he saw, executing a hit-and-run to put the Suns ahead 1-0. The offensive attack continued as Akhil Nimmala (Undecided) singled home Collazo, and a sacrifice fly by Josh Vinciguerra (Undecided) scored Thomas to extend the DeLand lead to 3-0.

Jackson Clark (Navy), who did not make a start for the Midshipmen this season, got the start for the Suns and carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning. After retiring the first two batters of the frame, Clark issued a walk, and a subsequent single by Ayden Elixon (Flagler) put Winter Garden on the board. Clark was relieved by his Naval Academy teammate, John Carroll, who earned the win after throwing 2.1 innings of hitless, scoreless baseball while walking two and striking out two.

The Suns added to their lead in the fourth after Boomer Rogozinski (Stetson) drew a walk and stole second to move into scoring position. Asher Kimball (Rollins) delivered a clutch single to left field, and Rogozinski scored from second after the Squeeze left fielder misplayed the ball. DeLand added one final run in the eighth. Vinciguerra doubled and, a few pitches later, stole third base. On the steal attempt, the Winter Garden catcher committed a throwing error, allowing Vinciguerra to score and giving the Suns their fifth and final run of the game.

Cooper Gatch came out of the bullpen in the seventh and threw 1.2 innings of one-hit baseball while striking out two. Marco Gonzalez finished the game on the mound, recording a strikeout to end the ninth inning.

In his postgame remarks, Suns skipper Stephen Piercefield commented on his team's offensive performance.

"Guys were able to first of all, get on base. From there, being able to utilize a team offensive approach and not just go up there trying to get hits, they were able to move the baseball, move runners situationally, and it made for some tough, long innings for [Winter Garden]."

With the win, the Suns improved to 1-0 on the season, while the Squeeze fell to 0-1. The two teams are next scheduled to face each other on July 9.

The Suns return to action on June 1 against the Sanford River Rats at Sanford Memorial Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

J.C. Fox (Mississippi Christian University)