Early Offense Was All Sanford Needed in Victory
SANFORD, Fla – A combined five runs scored in the first two innings was all the Sanford River Rats (14-6) needed for a 5-3 win over the DeLand Suns (7-13) in a scheduled makeup on Sunday night from Sanford Memorial Stadium.
The River Rats took control early in the first putting up three runs off DeLand pitcher Logan Wirt (Hillsborough CC) struggled with command, allowing four walks in the frame.
A leadoff walk for outfielder Connor Hujsak (Mississippi State) and a line drive double for McGuire Holbrook (Florida State) set up a RBI opportunity for first baseman Nick Collins (Florida Southern) who grounded to second to give Sanford an early lead. Later in the frame as the bases were loaded, outfielder Clayton Hodges worked a walk to bring home the second run.
Into the second inning, Sanford cashed in three more runs to lead by five after two in the books. After shortstop Jaxon Goldberg walked, and Hujsak reached base on a single in the infield, catcher Cole Russo hit a ground ball to the Suns shortstop Chase Bruno (Embry-Riddle) as Russo beat the throw, scoring Goldberg. Holbrook then hit a bouncer to third baseman Roshean Riley (Florida Southern) that could be picked in the dirt, scoring Hujsak on the error. Collins brought home the fifth run on a sacrifice fly, plating Russo.
With a cushion, the Sanford pitching settled in as Kevin Hebert (Limestone) cruised along with five scoreless innings, allowing just three walks and struck out three batters in his second win of the 2023 campaign. Hebert only saw pressure, allowing the bases loaded with no one out in the fifth for DeLand, but retired the next three hitters to keep the runs off the board for the Suns.
In the top of the seventh, DeLand made a comeback to make it a two-run ballgame. With runners on the corners, Aris Rivera (Polk State) smacked a double into the right centerfield gap to bring around two runs. Kency Mocombe II (Rollins) hit a groundball up the middle to score Rivera and made it 5-3 in the late stages.
However, that was all the Suns came across as Sanford pitcher Jose Moreno (Point Park) gave up no runs in the eighth and ninth to close out the night with a River Rats win. Moreno came onto relief to throw the rest of the four innings, allowing three runs on the board and punched out four hitters.
Sanford got on with nine walks and five hits, while each batter in the lineup got on base throughout the evening.
Holbrook led the night offensively going 2-for-4 for his second multi-hit game in four starts.
The River Rats will hit the road on Monday night with a matchup against the Orlando Snappers before the Fourth of July off day. First pitch from Lake Highland Prep is set for 7 p.m. and can be streamed on FloSports.
Jonathan Mayer (FIU)
