Suns Win Suspended Game, Fall in Game Two

ORLANDO, Fla. — The DeLand Suns and Orlando Snappers split a doubleheader Monday, with the Suns taking Game 1, 8-4, before dropping Game 2, 6-2, in a pair of games featuring a suspended contest and contrasting late-inning results.

Game 1

The Suns extended their winning streak to two with an 8-4 victory in the completion of a suspended game.

DeLand struck first with two runs in the opening inning. Shane Thomas (Undecided) was hit by a pitch and Nate Ricko (Pasco-Hernando State) walked to set the table. Boomer Rogozinski (Stetson) followed with a double down the right-field line to score Thomas, though Ricko was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on the play. Noah Prudencio (Florida State College at Jacksonville) then singled in Rogozinski to give the Suns a 2-0 lead.

Orlando responded in the bottom of the first, sending nine batters to the plate to take a 3-2 advantage.

The game remained scoreless until the contest was suspended in the top of the fifth due to heavy rain after Rogozinski reached on a walk.

Play resumed June 22 with Rogozinski on first and one out, and DeLand quickly regained control in the fifth inning. Richie Collazo (Eastern Florida State) and Devon Crown (Mississippi Christian) each walked and stole a base before Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) singled to right field to score both runners.

Later in the inning, Ricko added a two-run single, and Prudencio capped the rally with a sacrifice fly, giving the Suns a 7-3 lead.

Orlando added a run in the sixth, but DeLand answered in the seventh when Shane Thomas scored on a fly ball and throwing error to extend the lead to 8-4.

Couper Gatch (Eastern Florida State) earned the win with four strong relief innings, allowing one run on one hit while striking out four.

DeLand capitalized on eight walks and stole a season-high eight bases in the victory.

Game 2

The Suns fell 6-2 in Game 2 after holding a late lead before an eighth-inning collapse.

Pitching dominated early, with both offenses held scoreless through six innings. Izzy Rivera (Eastern Florida State) was outstanding in his first start of the season, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out seven. He faced the minimum in five of his seven frames.

DeLand broke through in the seventh, scoring two unearned runs on RBI singles from Richie Collazo and Trey Seluk (Undecided) after taking advantage of defensive miscues.

However, the lead unraveled in the bottom of the eighth after DeLand went to its bullpen. The first five batters reached base, with the first two outs of the inning coming on an unusual double play. A mix of hit batters, walks, and singles set the stage for a three-run double that put Orlando ahead 6-2.

The Snappers held on through the ninth to complete the comeback victory.

With the split, DeLand moved to 7-9 on the season, while Orlando improved to 9-7-1. The two teams will meet again June 30 in Orlando.