Indian River Splits Again with Defending National Champion FSW
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida Southwestern State College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
|
Indian River State College | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 12 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Florida Southwestern State College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 3 |
|
Indian River State College | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 4 |
FORT PIERCE, FL- On Tuesday, April 23rd, at The River, the number 4-ranked team faced off against the number 3-ranked Florida Southwestern State College (FSW) in the latest NJCAA National polls. Indian River State College (IRSC) came out on top in game one of the doubleheader matchup (for the second time this season) against the three-time defending national champion Buccaneers. The Pioneers jumped out to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning, scoring six runs. Indian River had hot bats throughout the contest, tallying up 12 total hits. Cassidy Patterson led the Pioneers with four hits in four at-bats from the leadoff position, and Ariana Murillo collected two hits for the Pioneers in her two at-bats. The River scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as well, going up 8-0. FSW fought back, scoring five in the top of the fifth inning, but IRSC held on to seal the 8-5 victory. That win was the fourth in the last five matchups, dating back to last season, against the conference rivals. The Pioneers also stole four bases in the game, and J'dah Girigorie notched another win in the circle, striking out five and walking none.
Game two saw FSW take a first-inning 1-0 lead, with the Pioneers tying things up in the third and taking a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. However, FSW would reclaim the lead in the fifth and hold on for a 7-3 win. Indian River collected nine hits in the contest (with 19 total in the doubleheader). Sarah Phipps, J'dah Girigorie, and Maddox Thomas each collected two hits in game two, while freshman pitcher Ciara Gendron threw five and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking none.
The split evened the season series and maintained the Buccaneers' one-game lead over Indian River in the Citrus Conference standings as both teams head into their final two regular-season games (scheduled for Saturday). Both teams are positioned to secure top seeding in the upcoming FCSAA State tournament.
Indian River looks to travel to the College of Central Florida on Saturday, April 27th, for their last two regular-season games (1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.) before postseason play.
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