Sixth-Inning Lightning Lifts Sharks Past Daytona State, 4–1

Daytona Beach, FL - Miami Dade exploded for four runs in the sixth inning and made it stand up, rallying past Daytona State College for a 4–1 win.

The Falcons struck first in the second, when David Falloon launched a solo homer to put Daytona State ahead 1–0. From there, it turned into a pitching duel, and Miami Dade's staff kept the game within striking distance.

Starter Luke Helms gave the Sharks four solid innings, allowing just one run on one hit while working around two walks. Jeffred Fermin bridged the middle with a clean fifth, and Xavier Pelzer slammed the door with a dominant finish, punching out five over the final two frames as Miami Dade's pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and held Daytona to three hits.

Then came the sixth.

With runners aboard, William Polanco flipped the game in one swing, a three-run homer that brought home Denixon Suarez and Samuel Castro and put the Sharks in front 3–1. Just moments later, Willy Mendez went back-to-back with a solo shot to make it 4–1, turning a one-run deficit into a comfortable lead in a matter of pitches.

Polanco finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Mendez went 1-for-3 with the clutch homer. Suarez and Castro each scored in the decisive inning as Miami Dade made the most of its five hits.

With the late surge and shutdown pitching, the Sharks closed it out clean and left Daytona with no answer after the sixth-inning blast in Game 1.