River Rats' Skid Continues in DeLand

DELAND, Fla. - In game one, The Sanford River Rats were unable to recover from a big middle-inning surge by the DeLand Suns, falling 5-2 on the road in game 1 of their doubleheader.

DeLand opened the scoring in the second inning when Torin Foley delivered an RBI single, bringing home Akhil Nimmala for a 1-0 lead. Sanford answered immediately in the bottom half as Tyler Meyer singled to second base, driving in Dominic Donatucci to even the game at 1-1.

The Suns seized control in the fourth inning with a three-run rally. Bryce Pasternack broke the tie with a two-run double to right-center field, scoring Noah Prudencio and Nimmala. Moments later, Hunter Demetree added an RBI single to center field, extending DeLand's advantage to 4-1.

DeLand added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Nimmala lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Shane Thomas and making it 5-1.

The River Rats responded in the bottom of the fifth. AJ Seymour drove in Braeden Weckman with an RBI single, though Seymour was thrown out trying to stretch the play into an extra base, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
Sanford was unable to mount a comeback the rest of the way as DeLand's pitching staff held the River Rats in check over the final innings.

Meyer and Seymour each recorded an RBI for Sanford, while Weckman and Donatucci scored the River Rats' two runs. DeLand was paced offensively by Pasternack's two-run double and RBIs from Foley, Demetree, and Nimmala.

The Sanford River Rats came up just short in the second game of their doubleheader against the DeLand Suns, falling 3-2 after DeLand rallied late to erase an early deficit.

Sanford jumped out to a fast start in the opening inning. With the bases loaded, Jake Schincariol worked a walk to force home Ben Fulks and give the River Rats a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Nick Upperman lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Jordan Marlo to score and extending the advantage to 2-0.

DeLand answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Benjamin Rogozinski Jr. singled to right field, driving in Joshua Vinciguerra to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The score remained unchanged through the middle innings as both pitching staffs settled in and kept opposing hitters off the board. Sanford maintained its one-run lead into the sixth inning before the Suns delivered the decisive blow.

After Sanford pitcher Brian Kendall walked a batter with one out, Coach Mike McDaniel went to the bullpen, bringing in Jack Waller in relief. Then, with two runners on, Akhil Nimmala lined a two-run single to left field, scoring Shane Thomas and Vinciguerra to give DeLand its first lead of the game at 3-2.

The River Rats were unable to respond in the final frame as the Suns completed the comeback victory.

Sanford's offense generated its two runs in the first inning behind RBIs from Schincariol and Upperman, while Marlo and Fulks each crossed the plate. DeLand was led by Nimmala's game-winning two-run single and an RBI hit from Rogozinski Jr.

The loss capped a difficult doubleheader for the River Rats, who dropped both games to the Suns despite leading in each contest.

Sanford will begin its three-game series against Winter Garden this Thursday at Sanford Memorial Stadium.

(Alejandro Landers - Elon University)