News

Sanford, FL - The Orlando Snappers faced the Sanford River Rats for the third time in two days. Orlando was looking to get back to winning ways after dropping both games yesterday, whereas the River Rats were hoping to get their first sweep of the season and extend their winning streak to four.

Sanford wasted no time to get some runs on the board. After a double by Matt Rose (University of South Florida) with one away in the bottom half of the first inning, and a pass ball by Snappers' backstop, Fabrizio Mattia (Seminole State College), Stewart Puckett (University of South Florida) was able to drive the first run of the game by flying out to deep left field.

Stanford would then tag on another run, this time in the second inning, after a home run by Anthony Cole (Paso Hernando Community College).

Snappers' starter, Anthony Devita (0-2, Rollins College), went back for his third inning of work but after letting up three more runs on the board, that inning proved to be his last.

Christian Montes (Lake Sumter Community College) came in relief of DeVita in the bottom half of the fourth inning and recorded the first one-two-three inning of the game for the Snappers. Orlando tried taking advantage of that momentum and notch their first base hits of the game but went hitless again in the top of the fifth.

When the bottom half of the inning came around, Sanford meant business. After batting around the order, the River Rats found themselves in a 10-0 lead after the fifth, scoring seven runs in the inning and ending Montes’ day at the mound.

With Orlando now down to their final six out and in danger of getting mercy ruled for the third time this season, catcher, Fabrizio Mattia, led off the inning with a single, breaking the River Rats’ combined no-hitter in the top of the sixth. Kevin Smith (Louisville) knocked a single himself later in the inning, but it was to no avail as the Snappers could not capitalize on the scoreboard.

With both Orlando and Sanford going hitless in their next at-bats, the River Rats were able to run-rule Terry Abbott’s second straight day by a final score of 10-0 in seven innings of play.

The Snappers will look to take advantage of a much-needed day off on Sunday, June 9th, with hopes of turning this around on Monday.

Up next for the Snappers:

Date: Monday, June 10th

Opponent: Leesburg Lightning

Location: Lake Highland Prep

First Pitch: 7:00 PM EST

Probable Starter: Simon Sobellia (0-0, Florida Gulf Coast University)