River Falls Short

FORT PIERCE, FL - The bats were active Thursday night, but The River came up short in a 9–7 loss to Miami Dade in a back-and-forth contest that featured timely hitting and late-game drama.

The River struck first in the third inning when EJ Burns launched a two-run homer to left field, giving Indian River an early 2–0 lead and setting the tone offensively. Miami Dade answered in the fifth on a game-tying home run by Ramirez, then took control in the sixth with a go-ahead RBI single by Castro to make it 4–2.

Miami Dade piled up 16 hits on the night and built a six-run advantage heading into the late innings. Despite the deficit, The River continued to compete and showed resilience at the plate. Indian River mounted a comeback in the eighth inning, scoring five runs on three hits to shift the momentum. Andy Schroeder drove in a run with a single, Niko Benested delivered a clutch two-run double, and David Pina added a two-run single to close the gap and put pressure on Miami Dade heading into the final frame.

The rally wasn't enough, as The River finished with four hits overall but made them count in key moments, capitalizing on opportunities and forcing Miami Dade to earn the final outs.

Shane Lavin started on the mound and delivered a solid outing, allowing one run on one hit over three innings while striking out two. Out of the bullpen, The River battled through traffic as Miami Dade strung together hits to extend its lead.

At the plate, Andy Schroeder, Niko Benested, David Pina, and EJ Burns each recorded a hit, with Burns and Benested driving in two runs apiece. Defensively, The River were sharp, turning two double plays and committing no errors. Vinny Dinzeo led the way with 13 chances in the field, anchoring a steady defensive effort.

Miami Dade was led offensively by Castro, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Polanco, Mendez, and Castro each collected three hits in the game as Miami Dade consistently applied pressure throughout the lineup.

A resilient effort late showcased the fight and character of Indian River, but The River couldn't quite overcome the early deficit in Thursday night's contest.

Follow all things River Athletics on Instagram and Twitter @irscathletics

Follow all things River Baseball on Instagram @irscbaseball