Sharks Open JUCO World Series Play With Comeback Victory
Grand Junction, CO - Miami Dade opened its run at the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series in emphatic fashion Sunday morning, erupting for 11 unanswered runs over the final three innings to defeat LSU Eunice, 11-3, at Suplizio Field.
Trailing 3-0 entering the seventh inning, the Sharks flipped the game completely behind a relentless offensive surge that produced 11 runs on 16 hits, handing LSU Eunice just its 13th loss of the season.
For six innings, Miami Dade struggled to solve Bengals starter Lane Fenske despite scattering six hits. LSU Eunice capitalized on a pair of Miami Dade miscues and timely hitting to build a 3-0 advantage through six innings, but the Sharks responded with one of their biggest innings of the season when it mattered most.
The rally began in the top of the seventh as Leamsi Montanez and Miguel Colmenares reached base ahead of a clutch two-run double from Denixon Suarez that cut the deficit to 3-2. Moments later, Adrian Areizaga tied the game with an RBI groundout before Willy Mendez delivered the knockout blow, launching a three-run homer to right-center field to suddenly put Miami Dade in front, 6-3.
The Sharks plated five more runs in the eighth inning behind consecutive extra-base hits from Suarez, Areizaga, Mendez, and Jendy Gonzalez. Suarez opened the frame with another RBI double before Areizaga drove in a run with a double of his own. Mendez followed with a two-run double to extend the lead to seven, and Gonzalez capped the scoring with another RBI double down the left-field line.
Mendez finished with a monster performance at the plate, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, including the pivotal seventh-inning home run. Suarez added two doubles and three RBIs, while Montanez went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Gonzalez recorded two doubles and an RBI, and Areizaga drove in two runs.
On the mound, Miami Dade used three pitchers to hold LSU Eunice to six hits. Xavier Pelzer got the start and worked 3.1 innings before Luke Helms bridged the middle frames. Luis Lorenzo earned the win out of the bullpen after striking out five over 2.2 shutout innings to close the game.
Defensively, the Sharks turned two double plays and shut down every LSU Eunice scoring opportunity after the sixth inning.
With the victory, Miami Dade improves to 38-18-1 overall and moves to 1-0 at the JUCO World Series, advancing into the winner's bracket. The Sharks now await the winner between Blinn College and Wabash Valley College in the next round of the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series.