News

SANFORD, Fla.- The DeLand Suns couldn’t complete the sweep against the Sanford River Rats on Saturday night as they fell 7-6 at Sanford Memorial Stadium.

DeLand sent Brendan Konal (Middle Georgia) to the mound, but infield singles stung him. Konal fought his way through four and two thirds innings, giving up six runs and striking out two. 

The Suns offense had Konal’s back today as they clawed their way back from an early 2-0 deficit. After a single got him on base, Brian Herrera (Middle Georgia) came around to score on an August Biggio (Villanova) groundout to cut the Sanford lead to 2-1. 

Each team matched runs in every frame until the fourth, when Sanford led 6-2. A Brandon Fields 2-run home run off Konal gave the River Rats a four run lead in the fifth. 

However the Suns fought back, plating one in the seventh, and then tying the game with three runs in the eighth. Biggio added another RBI and then RBI walks by Evan Mastromauro (Stetson) and Macallister Jorgensen (Tampa) tied the game up at 6. 

Sanford added a run in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead, but the Suns were not going down easily. 

Gio Lorenzo (Tampa) doubled over the head of Ahmad Fitts, and then was replaced on the bases by pitcher Dom Flacco (Palm Beach State). Herrera reached on an error, and Landon Moran (Stetson) singled to left field allowing Flacco a chance to tie the game. 

Flacco was thrown out at home, recording the third out as the River Rats salvaged the series. The Suns are off Sunday before going back to Sanford Monday to face off against the Seminole County Snappers. 

Dylan Pescatore (Arizona State)