Rich Propels Squeeze to Game 1 Victory Over Snappers

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Winter Garden Squeeze (10-10) defeated the Orlando Snappers (9-9-1) 7-4 in Game 1 on Thursday night at Orel Hershiser Field at The First Academy. With the victory, the Squeeze have won eight of their last 10 games after opening the season 2-8.

Nick Rich (Embry-Riddle) was the driving force behind the win. Making his third start of the season, the right-hander tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out six. Rich earned his first victory of the summer, improving to 1-1.

His counterpart, Orlando's Luis Machado (Daytona Beach Christian), was equally impressive early. Machado threw five scoreless innings and struck out four before running into trouble in the sixth.

Wilfredo Soto (Lane) sparked the rally with his third double of the season, lining a ball into the left-center-field gap to turn the lineup over. Fabian Antonsanti (Stetson) followed with a triple into right-center field, driving in Soto to give Winter Garden a 1-0 lead.

Austin Liss (Valdosta State) relieved Rich and worked a scoreless sixth inning, striking out one. Jack Sanchez (Keiser) made his first appearance of the season and tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief.

The Squeeze added to their lead in the eighth. Peyson Garcia (Undecided) singled into right-center field and later stole second to move into scoring position. Brody Bellomo (Georgia Southwestern) followed with an RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 2-0.

Bellomo later scored on a throwing error by Orlando catcher Cole Goodnoe (St. John's River State), pushing Winter Garden's advantage to 3-0.

The Snappers answered in the bottom half of the inning when Colby Brewington (Florida Southern) scored on a wild pitch charged to Carson Krueger (Hillsborough), trimming the deficit to 3-1.

The Squeeze responded with four insurance runs in the ninth. Alex Galan (Lake Sumter State) led off the inning with a single before Carlos Fuenmayor (Lake Sumter State) doubled down the left-field line to score his college teammate and make it 4-1. Cael Reish (Flagler) followed with an RBI double, extending the lead to 5-1.

Bellomo then capped the inning by crushing a two-run home run to right field, stretching the advantage to 7-1.

Orlando mounted one final rally in the bottom of the ninth, opening the inning with three consecutive singles. Gavin Gonzalez (Calhoun) lined an RBI single into right-center field to score James Hankerson Jr. (UCF), cutting the deficit to 7-2. Brewington later drew a bases-loaded walk, and Roy Rodriguez (Undecided) was hit by a pitch, bringing the Snappers within three runs.

Keith Holden (Rollins) entered with two outs and induced a game-ending groundout with the bases loaded to secure the victory for Winter Garden.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Orel Hershiser Field at The First Academy.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)