Pioneers Sweep Panthers Under the Lights

FORT PIERCE, FL - Friday night the Pioneers played a home softball game for the first time in its storied history "under the lights". The newly named Dale Atkinson Softball Field at the IRSC complex was beautifully lit up and the stands were packed. The fans, faculty and student body were treated to the home team's evening sweep of South Florida State College.

The game one win, 11-3, saw the bats come alive early by plating four in the bottom of the first. Freshman infielder Sarah Phipps crushed a three run home run over the left field fence and fellow freshman utility Presley Smith homered later in the game. The offensive barrage included a team total of 14 hits and 13 stolen bases.  Another freshman, pitcher J'dah Girigorie earned the win for Pioneers, yielding only two hits and one earned run over four innings of work, while striking out four.

Game two saw another solid performance both offensively, defensively and in the circle. Freshman pitcher Ciara Gendron collected the win, allowing three hits over four innings of work, and striking out three. Sophomore infielder Cambrie Todd added another home run for IRSC and baserunners stole another six bases, led by sophomore outfielder Cassidy Patterson's three. The Pioneers go on to win to get the sweep, 5-1. 

The Pioneers next game will be Friday, February 16^th, where they will face Nationally ranked (#3) Wallace State-Hanceville and College of Southern Idaho as part of the Paradise Cove Tournament in Naples, FL.

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