DeLand – The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs were swept in a split doubleheader on Saturday against the DeLand Suns to fall to 3-20. In a pivotal series for both teams, each game was decided by just one run. Thursday night's matchup was a thrilling 10-9 victory for Winter Park.

However, DeLand would eventually take the series after wins of 4-3 and 2-1 on Saturday. Both games featured a lot of competition and energy, as noted, this was a pivotal series for both clubs.

Winter Park held a 2-1 lead in the first contest until the third inning, but DeLand struck back in the third inning thanks to Holden Brauner’s two-run single. DeLand got quality efforts out of William Rollings (Florida Tech) and Robert Lastra (Bethune-Cookman), who held the Diamond Dawgs scoreless through the final three innings (seven seven-inning game). Winter Park out-hit DeLand with nine hits to the Suns' five, but ultimately it was not enough, and the two teams were set for a key rubber match. 

Knute Rockey (Embry-Riddle) got the start for Winter Park in the second game and pitched a gem. He was able to get through five innings of work, only giving up one hit, but it was a costly solo home run by DeLand’s Gavin Thomas (Davidson). Winter Park tied it up in the sixth as Roberto Odor (Saint Leo) came around to score, but DeLand’s Michael O’Brien came around to score in the bottom of the sixth due to an error on Winter Park’s pitcher. 

In the third of this three-game set, the teams combined for just five hits collectively, and Mattox Meeks (Florida Gulf Coast) turned in an impressive start for DeLand, throwing five shutout innings and striking out seven. 

DeLand has beaten Winter Park in five of their six matchups, and DeLand improved to 8-15 after the two victories. 

As for Winter Park, their next series is a three-game set between the Orlando Snappers, which begins on Monday at 6:00 p.m. EST at Alfond Stadium.

TJ French (University of Georgia)