DeLand Earns Shutout Victory Over Lyman In 9A-2 Action

The DeLand Bulldogs played host to the Lyman Greyhounds Tuesday night in each team’s first district game of the season. The Bulldogs swept their season series with their 9A-2 rivals last year and got off to the right start this year. Led by Steven Moffatt’s 2-for-3, two-RBI night, the Bulldogs rolled to an 8-0 victory over the Greyhounds.

The Bulldogs (2-0) finished last year with a winning record but a sub .500 mark within the division and looked to right the ship early on in the new season. Moffatt got the scoring going in the bottom of the first with a hard ground ball hit into center field that brought home Dawson McLaughlin from third. Moffatt collected his second RBI of the game in the third inning to make it 3-0 with another single into the outfield.

The offense for the Greyhounds (0-2) struggled to gain any momentum throughout the night. Jimmy Carey collected the Greyhounds; only hit with a single to center field in the fifth inning. Carey also reached base in the seventh inning on a walk. Gary Delancer and Nolan Eads were the only other Greyhounds to reach base on the night, each being issued a walk.

Much of the Greyhounds struggles were due to the starting pitching of the Bulldogs. Starter Bryce Hutchinson went five strong innings and picked up the victory. Hutchinson allowed one hit on 63 pitches. He struck out five and walked two.

The Bulldogs’ offense continued its surge in the fourth inning. Blaine Hogue doubled the lead for the Bulldogs with a RBI double into right field. He later came around to score his second run of the game to extend the lead to seven. McLaughlin crossed the plate for the second time in the game later in the inning to cap the scoring for the Bulldogs and give them an 8-0 advantage.

Now with an 8-0 lead, Nathan Palmer relieved Hutchinson in the sixth and struck out the side. Finally, Matthew Sadlon came in for the seventh and struck out two of the three batters he faced and closed out the game on only 10 pitches.

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