Suns' Skid Continues in Loss to Dawgs

DELAND, Fla. - The DeLand Suns' early skid continued Friday night as they fell 4-1 to the Winter Park Diamond Dawgs.

DeLand struck first for the first time in the series, scoring a run in the opening inning. Bryce Pasternack (Daytona State) drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base. With one out, Noah Prudencio (Florida State College at Jacksonville) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Pasternack and giving the Suns an early 1-0 lead.

Defensively, Suns starter Nic Delucia (Daytona State) turned in an excellent first start of the season. Delucia threw 5 2/3 innings, holding Winter Park scoreless through the first five frames. Four of those innings were retired in order.

Delucia faced adversity in the sixth inning when the Diamond Dawgs' leadoff hitter doubled. He responded by striking out the next two batters before showing signs of fatigue and departing with two runners on base. Delucia finished his outing having thrown the longest start by a DeLand pitcher this season, allowing one run while striking out five.

Winter Park broke through in the sixth inning, capitalizing on the leadoff double. The inning ended with Suns reliever Jason Dennis (Embry-Riddle) escaping a bases-loaded jam.

The Diamond Dawgs took their first lead of the night in the eighth inning after a DeLand error allowed a runner to reach base. A subsequent double drove in the go-ahead run to put Winter Park in front, 2-1.

The Dawgs added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, once again taking advantage of a DeLand error. A bases-loaded bunt single plated one run, while another scored on a throwing error during the same play.

DeLand was unable to respond after Winter Park took the lead, as the Diamond Dawgs retired 12 of the final 13 Suns batters, including the final seven in order.

Despite the loss, the Suns received several notable individual performances. Devon Crown (Mississippi Christian) shined defensively, recording eight assists, a season high. At the plate, Hunter Demetree (Tallahassee State) went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, while Shane Thomas (Undecided) finished 1-for-2 with a double, a stolen base and a hit-by-pitch.

The Suns will look to avoid a series sweep when they face the Diamond Dawgs in the finale Saturday at Alfond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

J.C. Fox (Mississippi Christian University)