Suns Surpass Snappers in Back-and-Forth Affair

DELAND, Fla. - The Orlando Snappers fell to the DeLand Suns 7-5 on Saturday evening in a tightly contested Florida Collegiate Summer League matchup.

Orlando entered the game undefeated in contests decided by four runs or fewer, but that streak came to an end as DeLand edged out the Snappers. The Suns' pitching staff recorded 13 strikeouts in the victory.

Brooks House got the start for Orlando and worked five innings. While the right-hander was efficient throughout his outing, the results did not fully reflect his performance. House allowed seven runs, five earned, as defensive miscues and missed opportunities behind him extended multiple innings. He threw no more than 16 pitches in any frame and consistently worked ahead in counts.

Cole Goodnoe followed with three scoreless innings in relief, showcasing his deceptive fastball and an expanded offspeed arsenal. Goodnoe continued to build on what has been one of the season's most impressive breakout performances for Orlando's pitching staff.

The Snappers' offense was led by the middle of the lineup, highlighted by a pair of University of Central Florida outfielders. James Hankerson Jr. reached base three times, while Luke Mottola scored two runs.

Orlando returns to action Monday for a rematch with the Suns at The First Academy. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Theo Shernoff (Michigan)