Elixson’s Double Propels Squeeze to First Victory

DeLand, Fla. — At last, the Winter Garden Squeeze have earned their first win of the 2026 campaign, and the hero of the night was Flagler's Ayden Elixson.

In the top of the ninth inning, Elixson stepped to the plate with an opportunity to put the Squeeze in front. Josh Schaller (Peru State) worked a full-count walk, and Josh Bell (Florida A&M) was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, setting the stage for the Flagler first baseman.

Elixson delivered, lacing a double down the right-field line that scored Schaller from second base and gave Winter Garden a 4-3 lead. Cael Reish (Flagler) added an insurance run later in the inning with his second RBI of the night, a sacrifice fly that brought Bell home.

"It felt really special to deliver and get the first victory of the summer," Elixson said. "It definitely takes a little weight off our shoulders."

Carson Kreuger (Hillsborough) shut the door in the ninth, earning the victory with three scoreless innings of relief. He allowed four hits and kept the Suns off the scoreboard.

Powered by the ninth-inning rally, the Winter Garden Squeeze (1-3) defeated the DeLand Suns (1-2), 5-3, on Wednesday night at Melching Field at Conrad Park. Nine of Winter Garden's 10 hitters recorded a hit in the victory.

Jack Costa (St. Johns River State) got the start for the Squeeze and worked 2 2/3 innings. Although he did not allow a hit, he issued four walks, and the free passes eventually caught up with him in the third inning.

Costa walked DeLand leadoff hitter Torin Foley (Embry-Riddle) and Nic Partridge (Florida) before hitting cleanup hitter Akhil Nimmala (Undecided) to load the bases. That marked the end of Costa's outing and gave the Suns a prime scoring opportunity.

Head coach Steven Crabtree turned to Austin Liss (Valdosta State), who ran into trouble immediately. His first pitch sailed to the backstop for a wild pitch, allowing Foley to score. Another wild pitch later in the inning extended the Suns' lead to 2-0.

Liss settled in after the rocky start and cruised through the remainder of his outing. He tossed 2 1/3 hitless innings and struck out four.

The Squeeze broke through in the sixth inning. Fabian Antonsanti (Stetson) led off the frame with a single to left field, and Alex Galan (Lake Sumter State) followed with a base hit. Carlos Funeymayor (Lake Sumter State) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Schaller grounded out to third base, but Antonsanti crossed the plate to cut the deficit to 2-1.

With momentum beginning to shift, Winter Garden turned to Anthony Barton (Miles) out of the bullpen. Barton allowed the Suns' first hit of the night on a single by Shane Thomas (Undecided), and DeLand pushed its lead back to two on an RBI single from Trey Seluk (Northwest Florida State).

The Squeeze responded quickly in the seventh inning. Landon Towns (Florida SouthWestern) drew a walk and advanced to second on a fielder's choice by Elixson. Reish followed with a single down the left-field line, scoring Towns from second and trimming the deficit to one.

Moments later, Colson May (Lake Sumter State) tied the game with a single up the middle that plated Reish from second.

The Squeeze return home Thursday to begin a three-game homestand against the Orlando Snappers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Horizon Park.