Miami Dade Edges Out HCC in Back-and-Forth Thriller, 9-8

Miami Dade pulled off a gritty 9-8 win over Hillsborough Community College on Wednesday in a game full of lead changes, key errors, and clutch hitting.

Both teams came out swinging in the 1st inning, with HCC taking an early 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Zacharias Walker and a double play that brought in another run. Miami Dade responded immediately, tying the game 2-2 on Santiago Carriles-Alvarado's two-run single.

The Sharks surged ahead in the 3rd, capitalizing on a pitching error and fielding miscue by HCC to put up three runs, taking a 5-2 lead. HCC chipped away, scoring two in the 5th and two more in the 6th, briefly grabbing a 6-5 lead.

But the momentum flipped again when Jendy Gonzalez launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the 6th, putting Miami Dade back on top 7-6. HCC answered with a two-run double from Angel Matos Ocasio in the 7th, making it 8-7.

Miami Dade sealed the comeback in the bottom half of the 7th with an RBI double from Carriles-Alvarado and a double play ball that allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Carriles-Alvarado led the Sharks at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs. Talan Beckford added 2 RBIs and scored twice. Jendy Gonzalez's clutch homer was a game-changer, and Luis Lorenzo earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Despite outhitting Miami Dade 10-8, HCC couldn't overcome three costly errors and timely hitting by the Sharks.