Squeeze Bats Go Cold in 7-1 Defeat
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
DELAND, Fla. — The Winter Garden Squeeze (13-14) dropped their first game following the Florida League All-Star break, falling 7-1 to the DeLand Suns (12-14) on Thursday at Conrad Park. The opener of the scheduled doubleheader served as the makeup of the teams' postponed season opener from May 29.
DeLand's offense produced 11 hits, led by second baseman Nic Partridge, who went 3-for-3 with a triple and two singles. Partridge opened the scoring after tripling and crossing the plate on Derek Lopez's RBI groundout.
Boomer Rogozinski also turned in a two-hit performance. After Lopez's groundout, the catcher singled to set up first baseman Akhil Nimmala, who lined an RBI double into the left-center field gap to extend the lead to 2-0. Noah Preudencio followed with an RBI single to score Nimmala and make it 3-0.
The Suns added another run in the third inning, and once again it was Partridge and Rogozinski who sparked the offense. The pair executed a double steal, with Partridge scoring to extend the lead to 4-0.
DeLand broke the game open in the fourth. Nate Ricko delivered a two-run single before Lopez capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly, giving the Suns a 7-0 advantage.
The Squeeze used three pitchers in the loss. Nick Rich made his sixth start of the season, allowing seven hits, six earned runs and one strikeout. Rhys Rego followed with 2 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering three hits and one run. Anthony Barton finished the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings while recording one strikeout.
On the other side, DeLand starter Colby White dominated the Squeeze lineup. White tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out six.
Winter Garden's lone run came in the sixth inning when Colson May drew a bases-loaded walk against Suns reliever Luke Hoffmann. Hoffmann struck out three but issued four walks in relief.
The Squeeze return to Horizon Park on Friday for the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Zach Moore (University of Florida)