River Triumphs Over St. Petersburg College Titans in Late-Game Thriller

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The River rallied late to secure a 6–5 victory over the St. Petersburg College Titans on Thursday, using a dramatic ninth-inning comeback to take the lead for good.

Trailing 5–3 in the top of the ninth, the River capitalized on a defensive miscue that brought in three runs, flipping the game in their favor.

The River opened the scoring in the second inning when Nico Lopez was hit by a pitch and Anthony Espinoza followed with a sacrifice fly, each driving in a run.

St. Petersburg College responded in the bottom half of the inning, stringing together a series of productive at-bats. Jack Lonneman singled, Nick Upperman drew a walk, Ray Campusano reached on a fielder's choice, and Lenin Nuñez grounded out—each play contributing a run to give the Titans the lead.

On the mound, Michael Malone provided steady relief for the River, tossing five innings while allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out two and walked one. Javi Miranda got the start, pitching two innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits, with two strikeouts and four walks.

Offensively, Lopez, hitting out of the eighth spot, led the River with two hits in four at-bats. Espinoza, David Pina, and Lopez each recorded an RBI. The River showed patience at the plate, drawing eight walks, with Andy Schroeder, Pina, and Finn Duran each earning two.

Defensively, the River was sharp, turning a double play and committing no errors. Espinoza led the way in the field with 11 chances handled cleanly.

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