Miami Dade Rallies Late to Defeat St. Petersburg College, 12-3
In a thrilling matchup, Miami Dade delivered a stunning comeback victory against St. Petersburg College, securing a dominant 12-3 win. Despite trailing for much of the game, the Sharks erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning and added three more in the eighth to seal the win in commanding fashion.
The game began with St. Petersburg College taking an early lead in the second inning. After Giovanni Cutino reached base and later scored on a bases-loaded walk by Daniel Hernandez, an error by Miami Dade's shortstop allowed Joseph DiCesare to cross the plate, giving St. Petersburg a 2-0 advantage. Miami Dade struggled to find offensive momentum against St. Petersburg's starting pitcher Gabriel Vargas, who held the Sharks scoreless through the first three innings.
However, Miami Dade chipped away at the lead in the fourth inning when Willy Mendez launched a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The game remained close until the sixth inning when Cian Copeland crushed a solo homer of his own, tying the game at 2-2. St. Petersburg briefly reclaimed the lead in the seventh on a double by Amarri Daniel, scoring Lenin Nunez to make it 3-2.
What followed was a dramatic offensive explosion by the Sharks. In the bottom of the seventh, Miami Dade took full control of the game, capitalizing on defensive miscues and clutch hitting. David Zamora ignited the rally with a two-run single, putting the Sharks ahead 4-3. A balk by St. Petersburg's pitcher allowed another run to score, followed by a passed ball that plated another, extending the lead to 6-3. The onslaught continued as Talan Beckford and Alejandro Sanchez delivered RBI hits, capping off a seven-run inning that gave Miami Dade a commanding 9-3 advantage.
The Sharks weren't finished, as they added three more runs in the eighth. Copeland continued his stellar performance with an RBI double, followed by Beckford's two-run home run, cementing the final score at 12-3.
Miami Dade's pitching staff played a crucial role in keeping the game within reach before the offensive explosion. Luis Lorenzo earned the win, pitching three shutout innings while striking out eight. The bullpen held St. Petersburg to just four total hits, with Jose Villegas closing out the game with two scoreless innings.
Copeland led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. Beckford also had a standout performance, collecting three hits, including a home run, and driving in three runs. Zamora contributed with two RBIs and two stolen bases, while Sanchez added two key RBIs in the seventh inning.