The River Sweeps Central Florida on the Road

OCALA, FL - Indian River rolled past the College of Central Florida on Saturday, March 22 securing a 12-4 victory. The team wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as Kassidy Pontbriant's fielder's choice in the top of the first inning put The River ahead early. The offense continued to shine in the second inning, with Sarah Phipps hitting a double that brought in two runs, followed by Presley Smith's groundout that added another run to the tally. By the end of the second inning, The River had established a solid lead.

They extended their advantage in the third inning when the College of Central Florida made an error that allowed another run to score, bringing the score to 6-1. In the fourth and fifth innings, Indian River continued to put runs on the board, scoring one in each inning. In the sixth inning, The River secured their lead by scoring four extra insurance runs, which proved crucial when the College of Central Florida fought back in the second half of that inning, scoring three.

On the mound, J'dah Girigorie was impressive, earning the win for The River. She pitched three and two-thirds innings, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out three batters and walking one. Hanna Deschambault came in as relief, helping to secure the victory.

Offensively, Indian River showcased their strength with 12 hits, led by Pontbriant, who drove in three runs and went 2-for-4 at the plate. Phipps, Pontbriant, Jordyn Lillis, and Smith each contributed with two hits. The team was aggressive on the bases, stealing a remarkable eight bases throughout the game, with Phipps, Anaise Piar, and Thaima Maximiliana each stealing multiple bases.

Thaima Maximiliana was the star of the show as The River cruised to a 13-2 run-rule victory in Game two. The team's offensive explosion was highlighted by Maximiliana's two home runs and three total RBIs. The team collected a total of 18 hits throughout the five innings and added another nine stolen bases, led by Hezzy Seabrook, who nabbed three while also going 2-for-2 at the plate.

The game started strong for The River, with Presley Smith kicking things off in the top of the first inning by tripling down the right-field line. Kassidy Pontbriant followed up with a single to center field, bringing in the first run. An error by the College of Central Florida defense allowed Indian River to extend their lead to 4-1 in the second inning. The momentum continued in the third inning, where RBI singles from Mckenzie Gibson and Jordyn Lillis added two more runs to the scoreboard.

Maximiliana's first home run came in the fourth inning, launching the ball deep into center field and further extending the lead. The fifth inning was another showcase of power, with The River scoring five runs on eight hits. Smith, Pontbriant, and Maximiliana each hit solo home runs back-to-back-to-back in the fifth inning, while Regan Means contributed with a hard-hit single that drove in an additional two runs.

On the mound, J'dah Girigorie earned the win, allowing only three hits and one run over three and two-thirds innings while striking out six batters. Pontbriant started the game, and Alexa Bethel closed it out, throwing a no-hit, shutout inning in the bottom of the fifth against the heart of the order for the Patriots.

Next Up for Indian River: Home vs Eastern Florida on Tuesday March 25^th (4pm and 6pm).

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