Late Rally Sends Sharks to Winner-Take-All Championship Rematch

Tampa, FL — The season will come down to one final game for the Miami Dade College Sharks.

After carrying a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, Miami Dade fell to Chipola College, 4-3, on Saturday evening. The loss sets up a winner-take-all rematch between the two programs on Sunday at 11 a.m., with the FCSAA State Championship and a berth to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado on the line.

The Sharks battled throughout the night behind another strong effort on the mound and timely hitting from the middle of the lineup, but Chipola pieced together back-to-back RBI singles in the ninth to walk off the contest.

Miami Dade struck first in the top of the third inning when Adrian Areizaga ripped an RBI double into left field, scoring Leamsi Montanez for a 1-0 lead. Chipola answered in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly from Tyler Correa to even the game at 1-1.

The Sharks regained control in the sixth inning after an error helped extend the frame. Willy Mendez continued his standout tournament performance with an RBI single through the left side, bringing home Samuel Castro to put Miami Dade ahead 2-1.

Miami Dade's pitching staff kept Chipola off balance for much of the night despite the Indians collecting 14 hits. Starter Jesus Moreno allowed just one run across three innings before turning things over to Kevin Roque, who delivered 4.1 innings of relief while allowing only one run and striking out four.

Chipola tied the game in the eighth inning after drawing a bases-loaded walk, but the Sharks responded immediately in the top of the ninth. Following a leadoff rally sparked by Mendez, Miguel Colmenares lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center field to give Miami Dade a 3-2 advantage entering the final half inning.

The lead was short-lived, however, as Chipola opened the ninth with consecutive baserunners before Tyler Correa tied the game with an RBI single. Moments later, Colin Guerra lined the game-winning hit down the right field line to complete the comeback.

Mendez paced the Sharks offensively with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Areizaga added a double and RBI of his own. Miami Dade turned two double plays defensively and did not commit an error in the field.

With the loss, the Sharks now turn their attention to Sunday morning's decisive championship showdown against Chipola. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the George M. Steinbrenner Field, with the winner earning the state title and an automatic berth to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction.