Dawgs Win Second Straight in Walk-Off Thriller

WINTER PARK, Fla.- The Winter Park Diamond Dawgs won a thriller, 7-6, in extra innings against the Winter Garden Squeeze on Monday night at Alfond Stadium, improving to 2-2 on the young Florida League season.

The Dawgs took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Jake Biaggi delivered an RBI single, Garrett Frost scored on a wild pitch, and Nikola Mezzanotte added an RBI fielder's choice to give Winter Park the early advantage.

Winter Garden gradually closed the gap and took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run double by Cael Reish and an RBI double from Fabian Antonsanti. The Dawgs quickly responded when Justus Mike scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 4-4. Mike later scored again in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Colton Musgrave, leveling the score at 5-5.

The Squeeze took a 6-5 lead in the top of the 10th inning on an RBI single from Antonsanti, but the Dawgs answered in the bottom half. A wild pitch allowed Carson Balls to score the tying run before Biaggi lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Justus Mike for the walk-off victory.

Biaggi paced the Dawgs' offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Mike crossed the plate three times and doubled, while Frost, Mezzanotte and Osmin Melendez each added a hit. Winter Park finished with eight hits and capitalized on aggressive baserunning and Squeeze miscues to secure the win.

On the mound, five Dawgs pitchers combined to hold Winter Garden to six runs. Ty Uchman earned the victory after pitching the final 1 2/3 innings and preserving the tie long enough for the offense to rally in the bottom of the 10th.

The win gave the Diamond Dawgs consecutive victories and valuable momentum as they continue Florida League play. Winter Park returns to Alfond Stadium on Tuesday for the third game of its four-game homestand, hosting the Orlando Snappers at 6 p.m.

Justin Baltes (University of Central Florida)