Melendez's Go-Ahead Homer Lifts Squeeze to Game 2 Victory

ORLANDO, Fla. — Edwin Melendez delivered the biggest swing of the night, launching a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning to lift the Winter Garden Squeeze (11-10) to a 4-2 victory over the Orlando Snappers (9-9-1) in Game 2 on Friday at Orel Hershiser Field.

With the win, the Squeeze claimed the series and will look for their first three-game sweep of the summer in Saturday's finale.

Rylee Gibson (The Citadel) made his third start of the season for Winter Garden and turned in another strong outing. The right-hander allowed one run over four innings while striking out five.

The Squeeze struck first in the top of the third. With runners on second and third, Osjun Rivas (Undecided) hit an infield single that plated both runners, giving Winter Garden a 2-0 lead.

Orlando responded in the bottom half of the inning. Roberto Alvarez (Undecided) singled to left before Mason Resmondo (Seminole State) lined a double down the left-field line to put runners on second and third. Resmondo later scored on a wild pitch, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

Julian Pitts (Texas A&M-Texarkana) tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief, allowing one run while striking out three. The Snappers tied the game in the sixth after Colby Brewington (Florida Southern) drew a walk and stole both second and third before Gavin Gonzalez (Calhoun) brought him home with an RBI single to center field.

Sidearming reliever Anthony Barton (Miles) followed with 1 1/3 innings, allowing two hits while striking out one.

Melendez stepped to the plate in the eighth, looking for his first hit of the night after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The league's batting average leader responded in emphatic fashion, crushing a go-ahead solo home run over the left-field scoreboard to put the Squeeze back in front, 3-2.

Winter Garden added an insurance run in the ninth when Rivas collected his third RBI of the night with a run-scoring single, extending the lead to 4-2.

The Squeeze turned to reigning FCSL Pitcher of the Week Kaden Howell (Santa Fe) to close out the victory. Howell struck out two and earned his second win of the season.

Game 3 of the series is set for Saturday at Horizon Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)