University Muscles Up In 11-0 Win Over 6A Cypress Bay

The University Suns came out swinging hot bats Wednesday, scoring six runs in the first inning, on their way to an 11-0 mercy-rule shortened win over Cypress Bay at Nova University field.

University School’s junior pitcher Mike White set the tone for the shutout early, retiring Cypress Bay hitters 1-2-3 in the top of inning one.

The Suns then sent ten batters to the plate in the bottom half of the inning. Charlie Gomez got things started with a lead-off walk. After a Mike Crespo single to right and a fielders choice put runners on second and third, White drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center. Sebastian Diaz tripled home Crespo and scored himself when designated hitter Jordan Budwig grounded a single up the middle, and suddenly it was 3-0 University. The inning, however, was far from complete.

J.J. Cormier reached base on an error to start the second rally of the inning. Diego Perez then bounced a grounder to shortstop Steve Reznyk, who tried unsuccessfully to beat Cormier to the second base bag, leaving the bases loaded for Diego Espinoza. The senior cleared the bases with a tremendous triple to deep right center field, staking the Suns to a 6-0 lead after one.

“Diego had a big hit against Somerset and then he struggled, so I took him out of the line-up and he sat for a few games,” said University Head Coach Rich Hofman. “His replacement failed a little bit, so I put him back in tonight and he came up big.”

Cypress Bay’s Brendon Cable retired the first two batters in the bottom of the second, but proceeded to walked White on four pitches. Diaz followed with his second extra base hit of the game, drilling a double down the left-field line. DH Budwig delivered a single, driving home both runners, and upping the Suns lead to 8-0 after only two innings.

Following another quick 1-2-3, seven pitch inning by White, the Suns were back at the plate looking to extend their lead. A walk to Espinoza was followed by a Gomez single to right field. Crespo ripped a double down the right field line driving in both runners. He came home on a wild pitch to close out the scoring on the night.

“Diaz had some good quality at-bats,” said Hofman. “as did Crespo. They really hit the ball hard tonight.”

White was the star on the mound for the Suns, as he has been in many games this season. On this night, the junior credited his fastball for the shutout.

“My fast ball had a lot of movement tonight, which allowed my curve balls to look even better,” said White. “And when my curve ball is on, it makes my fast ball look even faster. Everything was working tonight. I was really feeling good.”

White yielded just a pair of singles and one walk while notching six K’s in picking up the win. Brandon Cable takes the loss for Cypress Bay.

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