DeLand, Fla - On Saturday night, the Suns (15-13-1) and Squeeze (17-12) would meet for the final time this season. The Squeeze was eyeing a sweep of the three-game set, while the Suns, after 16 consecutive scoreless innings, were in desperate need of a strong offensive performance.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Suns' offense got on the board thanks to a leadoff homerun by Carter White (Undecided), in what felt like an immense weight was lifted off their backs. The Suns' offense would continue adding to their lead in the 2nd, as Holden Brauner (Tennessee) grounded one through the second base hole into right for a base hit, driving in Gavin Thomas (Davidson) and an errant throw by Garret Byrd, allowed Kade Faircloth (Newberry) to score and Brauner to advance to second.

The Squeeze would not go down without a fight, scoring one run in the third thanks to a single by Titan Kamaka, one run in the fourth off a single from Cole Steinmetz, and a sacrifice fly in the fifth from Titan Kamaka. After DeLand's early lead had quickly vanished, they needed to find a way to respond. In the bottom of the fifth, with the game tied 3-3, Kade Faircloth continued to show his impressive trait of hitting the ball to all fields, knocking a base hit the other way into right field, scoring Damion Kenealy (Lipscomb) from second, as Faircloth provided a massive run with two outs in the inning.

Being up by just one run in the sixth, coach Jergens would rely on arguably the most dominant reliever in the FCSL, Joel Core (Bethune Cookman), to get out of a really tight spot. With runners on second and first and no one out for the Squeeze, Core would stop Winter Garden right in its tracks. He was able to get the first out of the inning off a heads-up play by Nathan Cannizzaro (USF) at shortstop, where instead of trying to turn a double play as he was going towards his backside, Cannizzaro would flip it to third for the first out of the inning. Core was then able to strike out Mees Robersee and then take a grounder right back at him for the third out. Core would pitch two more scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth innings before the pivotal ninth to try and close things out.

With two outs and a runner on second, Titan Kamaka would step in and hit a slow dribbler right back up the middle. The ball would end up hitting the second base bag, causing the ball to get away from Mathew Farner and allowing the Squeeze to tie things up in the 9th.

With a chance to win things at home in the bottom of the ninth, Aris Rivera (UCF) would get his chance. After a four-pitch walk by Nathan Cannizzaro and in a critical moment, coach Jergens talked about what he told Rivera as he was due up, "He asked me if he should take in the event of a four-pitch walk, and I told him no, he's going to come right back at you with a fastball and you better be ready." Rivera, sitting dead red on a fastball, smoked one out to left field, right over the wall, and the Suns were able to avoid the sweep before Sunday's off day. "I was trying to look for a pitch I can handle, do some damage with, and just get the job done. I was trying to move Canni over and get him out of the force situation," Rivera said after his first home run of the season came in a huge spot.

"What a game! To end things like we did here tonight, after the last couple of games, I was so proud of the guys and how they continue to battle every single game," coach Jergens was very excited, as it was not only a night to celebrate the Suns, but was also a birthday win for the Suns' skipper.

Up next: DeLand will return home on Monday, July 15th, as the defending champion Leesburg Lightning comes to town. The first pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Melching Field.

Dylan Stanley (Dordt University)