LIVE OAK, Fla. — There’s been something special about the sixth inning for the Suwannee baseball team. 

The Bulldogs have scored 26 runs in the sixth inning — which accounts for 34 percent of their total runs — through 11 games this season. On Tuesday, they used another late-game explosion to pick up a win. 

Suwannee scored eight runs in the sixth inning to pull away from visiting Deerfield Beach for an 11-1 mercy-rule victory. 

The whole lineup was involved as eight different players recorded a hit for Suwannee (8-3).

“Early in the game we had to rely on walks to get the runs in,” said Bulldogs coach Justin Bruce. “We didn’t get the big hit. Finally late in the game it happened for us. We got some runners in scoring position and we were able to get some timely hits.

“Good to see the middle of the order get rolling. When they get going our offense is much different.”

The middle of the order was led by cleanup hitter Bo Bonds, who went 3-3 with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored. Hitting in the three-hole, Wyatt Morrill had a single, two walks and one run scored. 

Dalton Croft went 1-2 with two walks while Marquis Jones, EJ Alvarez, Josh Wharton, Ronnie Layton and Hunter Cantella had one hit apiece. Wharton lined a two-RBI double to left field in the sixth inning for Suwannee’s only extra-base hit. Cantella’s walk-off single scored Jones for the final run to seal the run-rule victory. 

After hitting into two double plays and making some baserunning mistakes early in the game, Suwannee finally got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning with some patience at the plate. SHS took advantage of four walks and a hit batter in the inning to score three runs. 

Deerfield Beach (3-9) starting pitcher Avery Thomas battled through some control problems, but was able to get through five innings after throwing 98 pitches. 

A trio of juniors led Suwannee on the mound as Jones (three innings pitched), Alex Sapp (one IP) and Dawson Harrell (two IP) combined to allow just two hits to the visitors from South Florida.     

“Good to have some young guys give you big innings and get some confidence going before they get into the big games that matter,” said Bruce, whose squad will open up district play tonight at home against Baker County. “That’s what makes your team go. You’re only as good as your pitching takes you.”