Suns Start Second Half with Blowout Win

DELAND, Fla.- The DeLand Suns came out of the All-Star break hot, defeating the Winter Garden Squeeze 7-1.

The Suns struck immediately, plating three runs in the first inning. With one out, Nic Partridge (Florida) tripled for DeLand's first hit of the game. Derek Lopez (Embry-Riddle) followed with a groundout to the right side that scored Partridge and gave the Suns a 1-0 lead. Boomer Rogozinski (Stetson) singled to center with two outs before Akhil Nimmala (Undecided) doubled deep to left-center field, scoring Rogozinski to extend DeLand's advantage. Noah Prudencio (Florida State College) capped the inning with an RBI single that brought home Nimmala and made it 3-0.

DeLand added another run in the third inning. Partridge singled with one out before advancing to second on a walk and to third on Rogozinski's fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, Rogozinski stole second. As the throw went to second base, Partridge broke for home and scored to give the Suns a 4-0 lead.

The Suns added three more runs in the fourth. Richie Collazo (Undecided) and Devon Crown (Mississippi Christian) each singled to put two runners aboard with one out. Nate Ricko (Pasco-Hernando) followed with a two-run single, scoring both Collazo and Crown. A pair of walks loaded the bases and moved Ricko to third before Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Ricko and extending DeLand's lead to 7-0.

Winter Garden scored its lone run in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded walk.

Colby White (Embry-Riddle) turned in another stellar outing on the mound for the Suns. The starter tossed five scoreless innings, struck out six and faced just one batter over the minimum.

With the win, DeLand improved to 12-14, while Winter Garden fell to 13-14.

The teams continue their three-game series on July 10. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Horizon High School in Horizon West.

J.C. Fox (Mississippi Christian University)