Sharks Lose Charlie Greene Opener

Miami Dade dropped a 7–2 decision to Coastal Alabama–South on Friday night, as a late surge by the visitors broke open a tightly contested game.

The game opened with Coastal Alabama–South taking advantage of an early miscue in the first inning to score an unearned run, but Miami Dade starter Luke Helms settled in after that. Helms was sharp through four innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four and keeping the Sharks within striking distance despite limited offensive opportunities early.

Both teams were locked in a scoreless duel from the second through the fifth, with Miami Dade putting runners on base but unable to cash in. Coastal Alabama broke the deadlock in the sixth inning when Tyler Delvecchio connected on a two-run home run to extend the lead to 3–0.

Miami Dade answered immediately. William Polanco put the Sharks on the board in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, cutting the deficit to two and injecting momentum back into the dugout. However, the Coyotes responded with a decisive seventh inning, plating three runs on a two-run single and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded to push the lead to 6–1.

Polanco continued to lead the Miami Dade offense in the bottom of the seventh, driving in his second run of the night with an RBI single to make it 6–2, but the Sharks were unable to generate a sustained rally. The visitors added an insurance run in the eighth on an aggressive baserunning sequence that capped the scoring.

Polanco finished 3-for-5 with a home run and both RBIs for Miami Dade, while Samuel Castro and Nelson Hiraldo each collected multi-hit or on-base performances. The Sharks matched the visitors with seven hits but left runners on base in key moments.

Miami Dade will look to regroup quickly as they continue the Charlie Greene Invitational tomorrow.