Antonsanti's Four-Hit Night Powers Squeeze Past Lightning

LEESBURG, Fla. — One night after being shut out 16-0, the Winter Garden Squeeze responded in emphatic fashion Friday, riding a four-hit performance from Fabian Antonsanti (Stetson) to a 13-5 victory over the Leesburg Lightning at Pat Thomas Stadium.

Antonsanti set the tone immediately, leading off the game with a single to center field. He later added a double and two RBI singles, finishing 4-for-5 with four RBIs as the Squeeze improved to 7-9 and evened the series against the Lightning, who fell to 12-4.

Winter Garden struck quickly in the first inning. After Antonsanti's leadoff hit, Osjun Rivas (Undecided) drove him home with an RBI single to left-center field. Joshua Schaller (Undecided) followed later in the inning with a two-out, two-run single to give the Squeeze an early 3-0 lead.

Leesburg answered in the bottom half when Dylan Green (Winthrop) grounded out to shortstop, allowing Andon Gray (Florida A&M) to score and trim the deficit to 3-1.

The Squeeze seized control in the fourth inning with a six-run outburst. Cael Reish (Flagler) opened the frame with a solo home run to extend the lead to 4-1.

Carlos Fuenmayor (Lake Sumter State) later drew a walk, and Leonardo Suarez (Polk State) lined a double down the left-field line to put runners at second and third. Winter Garden continued to capitalize, drawing a pair of walks before Edwin Melendez (Undecided) added an RBI groundout and Josh Bell (Florida A&M) delivered an RBI single to cap the inning and push the lead to 9-1.

The Lightning battled back in the fifth. Gabe Campos (Eckerd) drew a bases-loaded walk, Gray added an RBI groundout, and Kaden Thompson (Georgia Southern) ripped a two-run double off the center-field wall to cut the deficit to 9-5.

Neither team scored in the sixth, but the Squeeze regained breathing room in the seventh. Antonsanti delivered again, lining a two-run single to extend the advantage to 11-5.

Winter Garden added two more insurance runs in the ninth on an RBI single by Brody Bellomo (Georgia Southwestern) and Antonsanti's fourth RBI of the night.

The Squeeze used four pitchers in the victory. Left-hander Jason Sawyer (Undecided) started and tossed four innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out three.

Colson May (Lake Sumter State) entered in relief but walked three batters without recording an out. Rylee Gibson (The Citadel) steadied the game, throwing three innings and allowing one hit while earning his second win of the season. Kaden Howell closed the door with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts.

With the victory, Winter Garden bounced back from its largest loss of the season and secured a split of the first two games of the series.

The teams will meet again Saturday at Horizon High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)