University Pitchers Record 14 Strikeouts As Suns Rally Past Benjamin

University manager Eddie Tisdale feels as though his team has one of the top pitching staffs in the area.

He knows that they all have good stuff, and he likes that they are confident and believe in themselves.

On Wednesday night the Suns helped show why Tisdale has so much confidence in them, as University’s pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts on the way to 5-1 comeback win over Benjamin in an HSBN Preseason Challenge contest played at North Broward Prep.

While it was the Suns’ bats that came alive late with a four-run fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie, it was without question that this victory was forged by the boys on the mound.

Right-hander Shane Wise helped set the tone, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced in his three innings of work. Lefty Freddy Sultan spelled Wise, and was equally efficient in picking up six strikeouts in three innings. Sultan pounded 38 strikes out of his 52 pitches while holding the Buccaneers scoreless before giving way to Cole Goldstein, who tossed a perfect seventh to end it.

“Our goal is to control the tempo of the game,” Tisdale said. “We have a great pitching coach who works hard with the guys who have the talent and ability to control the game. It trickles down from the pitchers to our catcher and then to our fielders. Our fielders have a lot of confidence playing behind them.”

The Buccaneers started the contest aggressively against the tough righty Wise, as center fielder Kody Ruedecili drew a leadoff walk and then stole second to put himself in scoring position. Two batters later Matt Harris delivered an RBI single to put Benjamin up 1-0.

But the Bucs scattered just four hits the rest of the way, with a pair of them coming from Daylen Sparks, who was 2-for-3.

University notched it at one apiece in the bottom of the third, as Adam Sinkoe found a hole in the right side of the infield defense for a leadoff single that sparked the offense. Daniel Epstein hit into a fielder’s choice to erase Sinkoe at second, and then promptly swiped the bag for himself.

Epstein displayed his baserunning ability by advancing to third when Sebastian Diaz fouled out to right field. Andrew Denis came to the plate and drilled the first pitch he saw down the first baseline and past the diving fielder for an RBI single.

The Suns threatened by putting a pair of runners on in the bottom of the fourth, as Evan Klugerman walked and Carl Chafetz singled with two outs. Kyle Ruedicili dove out and snared a hard shot off the bat of Sinkoe to preserve the tie.

But in the fifth University finally broke through.

Coming to bat from the top of the lineup, the Suns’ first three hitters all singled to load the bases. Again it was Denis, this time taking a small hit for a big result as he laid a perfect bunt down the third baseline. The third baseman was forced to rush in an attempt to make the play, which resulted in the ball getting away from him to allow Daniel Epstein to cross the plate with the deciding run.

University padded that lead with three more runs to close the scoring.

“We want to be in as many of those situations as possible,” Tisdale said. “It’s going to help these kids prepare mentally so that when we face those situations again later in the year they are unfazed by it.”

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