Suns Get Back in Win Column, Beat Snappers

DELAND, Fla. - The DeLand Suns notched their first victory of the week Saturday, defeating the Orlando Snappers 7-5.

DeLand struck first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shane Thomas (Undecided) led off with a single, and Nate Ricko (Pasco-Hernando State) followed with a one-out single to put two runners aboard. With two outs and runners on second and third, Noah Prudencio (Florida State College at Jacksonville) lined a single to score both Thomas and Ricko, giving the Suns a 2-0 lead.

Orlando responded in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs to take its first and only lead of the game, 3-2.

The Suns answered in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim the lead. Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) and Richie Collazo (Eastern Florida State) reached on a walk and an error, respectively, to begin the frame. Blue Hunter (Rollins) drove in Foley with a groundout before Bryce Pasternack (Daytona State) delivered an RBI single to score Collazo and put DeLand back in front, 4-3.

Leading 4-3 entering the bottom of the fourth, DeLand added another run to extend its advantage. With one out, Prudencio drove in Ricko with a single, collecting his third RBI of the night and making it 5-3.

The Snappers tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a bases-loaded opportunity with a two-run RBI single.

DeLand responded immediately in the bottom of the sixth and never relinquished the lead. After a leadoff single, Christian Duarte (Undecided) doubled home the go-ahead run to put the Suns ahead 6-5. DeLand added an insurance run later in the inning when Bryce Pasternack put a ball in play that allowed Duarte to score from third.

Starting pitcher Nic Delucia (Daytona State) worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits while striking out a season-high nine batters. Izzy Rivera (Eastern Florida State), Couper Gatch (Eastern Florida State), and Colby White (Undecided) combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. Rivera earned the win to improve to 1-1 on the season, while White recorded his first save.

Ricko and Prudencio paced the Suns offensively with three hits apiece. Prudencio also drove in three runs.

With the victory, DeLand improved to 6-8, while Orlando fell to 8-6-1.

J.C. Fox (Mississippi Christian University)