A Tie For The River

FORT PIERCE, FL - The River battled back multiple times Tuesday night, earning an 8–8 tie against TNXL Academy Ducks Premier in a back-and-forth extra-inning contest that had everything.

Joe Amunategui led the charge with a monster performance, going 4-for-5 at the plate. He doubled in the second inning, singled in the fourth and seventh, and launched a clutch solo home run to left in the ninth to ignite the late rally.

TNXL struck first in the second inning with a three-run homer by Ramos, then added two more in the third on a two-run shot from Veras to take early control. Indian River answered throughout the night and pulled even in the seventh, when Amunategui delivered again with an RBI single to tie the game at five.

TNXL regained the lead in the ninth with back-to-back RBI doubles from Bristow and Bender, making it 7–5. The River, however, refused to go away. Amunategui's solo homer highlighted a two-homer bottom of the ninth as Indian River battled back to tie the game at seven.

TNXL pushed across a run in the top of the tenth on an RBI single by Traylor to take an 8–7 lead, but Kramer responded in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly to knot the game at eight.

Indian River finished with 12 hits on the night. Jacob Souza and Niko Benested each recorded multiple hits, while Andy Schroeder and Cam Bakeer showed patience at the plate with two walks apiece. The River drew seven walks overall and turned one double play.

Nick Burgos tossed three innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Ethan LaPointe struck out five over two innings in the start.

It was a resilient effort all around in a game that showcased The River's fight from start to finish.

Indian River will host Miami Dade on Thursday as The River heads into the second week of Citrus Conference play.

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