The River Splits Doubleheader with Eastern

In Game 1, the River secured a 5-2 win behind a flawless performance from Niko Benested, who went 3-for-3 at the plate. He set the tone early with a double in the first inning, added a single in the fourth, and capped his day with a two-run home run to left field in the fifth after a six-pitch at-bat.

After Eastern Titans struck first on a sacrifice fly in the opening inning, the River responded and took control in the fourth. Finn Duran came through in a key moment with a go-ahead double that gave the River a 3-1 advantage. The momentum continued in the fifth when Benested's home run extended the lead and provided valuable insurance. Blake Anderson delivered a steady and efficient outing on the mound, tossing a complete game. The right-hander allowed just three hits and two runs over seven innings while striking out two and walking one, keeping Eastern Titans off balance throughout.

Offensively, the River totaled nine hits, with Duran driving in three runs from the nine spot in the lineup. Jacob Souza added two hits in three at-bats, contributing to a balanced attack. Defensively, the River was sharp and disciplined, finishing the game without committing an error, while Benested led the way with eight chances in the field.

Game 2 turned into an offensive battle, but the River came up short in an 8-4 loss despite outhitting Eastern Titans 15-13. EJ Burns paced the River with an impressive four-hit performance, while Anthony Espinoza, Cam Baker, David Pina, and Robert Kramer each drove in a run.

Eastern Titans capitalized early on an error to open the scoring, but the River answered quickly in the second inning. Kramer brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Espinoza followed with an RBI single to give the River a 2-1 lead. The back-and-forth continued as Eastern Titans responded in the bottom half to retake the lead.

The River showed resilience throughout the game, tying things up again in the fourth on an RBI single from Baker, and later evening the score at 4-4 in the seventh thanks to a sacrifice fly by Pina. However, Eastern Titans broke through in the bottom of the sixth and then created separation in the seventh with a key hit that brought in multiple runs. Max Gonzalez got the start in Game 2, working three innings and allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out three. The River bullpen battled, but Eastern Titans were able to capitalize late.

The River offense remained productive, collecting 15 hits in total. Souza and Duran each recorded multi-hit games, while Duran also added pressure on the basepaths with two stolen bases. As a team, the River swiped four bases and turned a double play defensively.

Eastern Titans matched the offensive pace with 13 hits and took advantage of key moments late in the game. Despite the loss, the River showed depth at the plate and continued to compete in every inning.

The River now stands at 16-18-1 overall and 9-12 in the Citrus Conference. They will look to build on the positives as they head back on the road Thursday for their next matchup against Daytona State.