SAMFORD, Fla. — The Bryant Hornets were limited to four hits by lefty Dylan Silva of the American Heritage Prep[more] Stallions of Delray Beach, Fla., as they opened pool play in the annual Florida League High School Invitational with a 4-2 loss Monday night.
Tyler Nelson, who had three of the Hornets’ hits, started the game on the mound as well and, in 5 2/3 innings struck out 10. But the Stallions managed 10 hits, scoring a run in the first, two in the third and one more in the fifth.
Jordan Taylor got the final four outs for the Hornets, fanning three.
The Hornets are scheduled to have Tuesday off then return to pool play on Wednesday morning at 10:30 against Seminole, Fla. They complete pool play on Thursday against Palm Beach Central at 4:30 p.m.
American Heritage took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Anfernee Seymore singled on Nelson’s third pitch and Jonathan India doubled on his fourth.
The Bryant right-hander bounced back with a strikeout then picked India off first before fanning Josh Glick to end the inning.
The Hornets answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Nelson led off with a double and took third on a grounder to the right side by Taylor. Josh Pultro was hit by a pitch and swiped second and when Hayden Lessenberry reached on a third-strike wild pitch, Nelson scrambled home with the tying run.
Nelson struck out the side around a one-out single in the second then Silva set down the Hornets in order including the first of his nine strikeouts.
The third inning turned out to be decisive. The Stallions’ two-run uprising began with a one-out walk to Seymour. He stole second and scored when the next batter Peter Castillo reached on a two-base error. John Spada’s single put runners at first and third then Nelson strucfk out Glick again. On the next pitch, however, Connor Power singled to drive in Castillo, making it 3-1.
Nelson opened the bottom of the inning with his second double. Courtesy runner Trevor Ezell took third on Taylor’s groundout. Pultro fanned but Lessenberry walked. With Dylan Cross at the plate, the Hornets tried to steal a run with the trailing base-runner breaking early and drawing a throw. But when Ezell broke for the plate, the Stallions made the play to retire him at the plate.
American Heritage put a pair of runners on with singles in the top of the fourth but Nelson picked off the lead runner then struck out Seymour to keep it 3-1.
Silva worked another 1-2-3 frame sending the game to the fifth when his teammates added an insurance tally after Castillo fanned and Spada tapped back to the mound. Glick made contact this time, cracking a single. Power singled and advanced on a late throw to third. A wild pitch allowed Glick to score to make it 4-1.
The Hornets got that run back and threatened for more in the bottom of the inning. Hayden Daniel drew a lead-off walk but he was picked off before Marcus Wilson drew a free pass. Nelson singled and, with two out, Pultro came through with an RBI hit. With runners at first and second, however, Silva wriggled off the hook by getting Lessenberry to sky to right.
Heritage got a runner on first with a one-out walk in the sixth. With two down, a single by Todd Isaacs brought the top of the order back around. Nelson gave way to Taylor who struck out Seymour to end the threat.
Silva, however, set the Hornets down in order in the home sixth, fanning two. Taylor did the same to the Stallions in the top of the seventh to keep it 4-2 going into the Hornets’ final at bat.
But Silva struck out two more and induced a pop up between them to close out the victory.
The loss was Bryant’s second in a row after an 8-0 start to the season.
