In a heart-pounding finish, Atlantis University delivered a dramatic walk-off win over the UIC Eagle Rays, sealing a 4-3 victory on Sunday. The game reached its climax in the bottom of the seventh when Eddy Perez lifted a sacrifice fly deep enough to bring home the winning run, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United International College
|
0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
|
Atlantis University
|
0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Atlantis University's offense found its rhythm when it mattered most, with the bottom of the lineup proving crucial to the team's success. Nathaniel Gomez, Ozzyel Gabarro, and Justin Suarez combined for half of Atlantis' eight hits, scoring twice and driving in a run. Gomez, in particular, showcased his clutch hitting, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. The UIC Eagle Rays struck first, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a single by Luis Escarraman that plated two runs. They extended their lead to 3-1 in the third when Carlos Sierra hit a sacrifice fly, but Atlantis University responded swiftly. Jonathan Mustelier's RBI single and Jony Vasallo's groundout brought the game back to a 3-3 deadlock in the bottom of the third.
On the mound, Joshua Polanco was a workhorse for Atlantis University. The right-hander battled through seven innings, allowing nine hits and three runs while striking out three and issuing just one walk. Despite some early trouble, Polanco settled in, keeping the Eagle Rays off the board for the final four frames and giving his team a chance to rally. Despite a solid outing, UIC's Harold Garcia took the loss, tossing six innings while allowing eight hits and four runs (three earned). He struck out four and walked one before turning it over to Jordan Aronson, who faced just two batters before Atlantis ended it with their walk-off heroics.
Atlantis's defense was sharp, turning two crucial double plays to stifle potential scoring threats. Offensively, Oscar Caicedo and Gomez each tallied two hits, while Perez, Mustelier, Vasallo, and Gomez each drove in a run to power the lineup. But the game's defining moment came in the bottom of the seventh. With the winning run 90 feet away, Perez stepped to the plate and delivered in the clutch, sending a deep sacrifice fly more than enough to secure the victory. The dugout erupted as Atlantis University walked it off in an electrifying fashion. With momentum on its side, Atlantis University is now turning its attention to its next matchup against Bryant & Stratton Albany, eager to build on this thrilling victory.
