Squeeze Bats Silent After Five-Run First

LEESBURG, Fla. — It appeared the Winter Garden Squeeze were on their way to a comfortable victory Wednesday at Pat Thomas Stadium. Instead, after jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, the offense went quiet, managing just two hits the rest of the way.

The Leesburg Lightning (17-6) rallied to defeat the Winter Garden Squeeze (11-12), 9-5, on Wednesday evening. Winter Garden struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, finishing 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

After recording nine hits but stranding 15 runners in Tuesday's loss, the Squeeze wasted no time getting on the board.

Fabian Antonsanti (Stetson) led off the game with a single to left field and scored the game's first run on a wild pitch by Leesburg starter Ben Clenney (Florida A&M).

Later in the inning, Carlos Fuenmayor (Lake Sumter State) lifted a sacrifice fly to score another run, extending the lead to 2-0. With the bases loaded, Colson May (Lake Sumter State) delivered a two-run single into right-center field to make it 4-0. The Squeeze added one more run when Joshua Schaller (Florida Polytechnical) scored on a balk, giving Winter Garden a 5-0 advantage after the opening frame.

Leesburg answered immediately in the bottom of the first. With runners on second and third, KT Thompson (Georgia Southern) lined a two-run single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Lightning added another run in the second when Marcello Cortale (Jacksonville) grounded out to shortstop Javier Calzadilla (Undecided), allowing Ledger Pleasant (Undecided), who had reached on a bunt single, to score.

Leesburg continued to chip away in the third. Thompson reached on a fielder's choice with runners on the corners, driving home another run to make it 5-4.

The Lightning evened the score in the fourth after Dylan Green (Winthrop) reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Cortale to cross the plate.

Leesburg finally took the lead in the eighth. Green reached on a throwing error by Calzadilla, allowing Andon Gray (Florida A&M) to score the go-ahead run. The Lightning added three insurance runs in the inning on a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter to extend the lead to 9-5.

Cody Clymer (Hillsborough) earned the victory, tossing two scoreless innings and striking out four to close out the game.

The Squeeze return home Thursday to face the Sanford River Rats (9-15). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Horizon Park.

Zach Moore (University of Florida)