Suns Win Four-Hour Marathon in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. - The DeLand Suns outlasted the Orlando Snappers 12-6 in a four-hour marathon Tuesday night at Orel Hershiser Field.

Orlando struck first, scoring one run before leaving the bases loaded to end the inning.

DeLand responded in the second, taking advantage of a Josh Vinciguerra (Undecided) leadoff double. With runners on second and third, Blue Hunter (Glendale CC) grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Vinciguerra and tying the game.

Orlando once again took the lead, scoring a run on a double-play groundout.

DeLand took the lead for the first time in the third. Nic Partridge (Florida) drew a walk, Bryce Pasternack (Daytona State) drew a walk and Shane Thomas (Undecided) singled to load the bases before an out was recorded. Akhil Nimmala (Undecided) was hit by a pitch, scoring Partridge and tying the game at 2-2. With the bases still loaded, the next batter, Josh Vinciguerra, grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Thomas from third and giving DeLand the lead.

The Suns added another run later in the inning. With runners on second and third, Nate Ricko (Pasco-Hernando) hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Nimmala tagged from third and scored, making it 4-2.

Orlando responded in the fourth, scoring two runs. A walk and a single with the bases loaded produced two runs and tied the game at 4-4.

The Suns added two in the fifth to reclaim the lead. With runners on first and second, Akhil Nimmala collected his second RBI of the day with a single that scored Bryce Pasternack. With the bases loaded, Shane Thomas scored on a wild pitch, extending the Suns' lead to 6-4.

The Snappers answered with one run in the bottom of the fifth but still trailed 6-5.

The sixth inning was the game's lone scoreless frame.

DeLand extended its lead in the seventh, scoring three times. With Akhil Nimmala on third and Josh Vinciguerra on second, Blue Hunter delivered his second and third RBIs of the game by scoring both runners. Hunter later came home on a single by Christian Duarte (Carthage).

Orlando attempted to mount a comeback in the eighth but managed only one run. The Snappers took advantage of a pair of wild pitches, cutting the Suns' lead to 9-6.

The Suns put the game out of reach in the ninth, adding three more runs. Trey Seluk (Undecided) and Christian Duarte were each hit by pitches to put runners on first and second. Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) followed with an RBI single, scoring Seluk. With runners on second and third, the next batter, Nic Partridge, smacked a two-run double to center field, scoring both Duarte and Foley.

Offensively, DeLand notched 11 hits and drew 11 walks. The Suns sent 52 men to the plate, and every batter reached base at least once, with nine players scoring at least one run.

On the mound, DeLand utilized five pitchers, who combined to throw 201 pitches. Izzy Rivera (Eastern Florida State) got the start and threw two innings. Nick Delucia (Daytona State) earned the win after throwing two innings. Ryan Kelley (Rollins) recorded four outs, and Colby White (Embry-Riddle) retired all five batters he faced. Couper Gatch (Eastern Florida State) threw the final two innings and struck out four.

With the win, DeLand improved to 9-12, while Orlando fell to 10-11-1.

The two teams are next scheduled to meet on July 5 in DeLand.

The Suns return to action on July 2 against the Leesburg Lightning. The teams will complete a previously suspended game before playing a regularly scheduled contest at Conrad Park.

J.C. Fox (Mississippi Christian University)