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Miami Dade’s Postseason Run Ends in Extras Against Eastern Florida

Miami Dade’s Postseason Run Ends in Extras Against Eastern Florida
Box Score
May 15, 2026

Clearwater, FL - Miami Dade's postseason run came to a heartbreaking end Saturday afternoon as the Sharks fell 3-2 in eight innings to Eastern Florida State College in an elimination matchup.

The loss closes the book on a memorable season for Miami Dade, which battled through one of the toughest schedules in the state and remained in contention until the final swing of the year.

Eastern Florida State struck first in the second inning when Avery Helms launched a solo home run to left field, giving the Titans an early 1-0 advantage. Miami Dade starter Amanda Handa settled in afterward, keeping the Sharks within striking distance while working through traffic across multiple innings.

Miami Dade answered in the fourth behind the power bat of Leyani Viruet. The freshman turned on a pitch and sent it down the left field line for a game-tying solo homer, knotting the contest at 1-1.

The Titans regained the lead an inning later on a sacrifice fly from Aracelis Jimenez, but the Sharks refused to let their season end quietly.

Trailing 2-1 entering the seventh inning, Miami Dade delivered one final rally. After Cate Haggerty reached and Jessica Ortiz came around to score as the tying run, Caroline Mito lined an RBI single back up the middle to even the game at 2-2 and force extra innings.

Handa continued to battle in the circle, finishing with 7.1 innings pitched while throwing 123 pitches in the complete-game effort. The sophomore kept the Sharks alive long enough to give the offense a chance late.

In the bottom of the eighth, however, Jaelynne Whipple ended the contest with a walk-off solo home run to right field, sending Eastern Florida State forward and bringing Miami Dade's season to a close.

Mito led the Sharks offensively with two hits and the game-tying RBI, while Viruet added the solo homer. Haggerty also collected a pair of hits in the loss.

Miami Dade closes the year after another competitive campaign that saw the Sharks once again battle among the top programs in the FCSAA.