Pioneers Walk-Off FSW at Home

FORT PIERCE, FL- Indian River State College secured a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over Florida Southwestern State College (FSW) in an 11-inning showdown on Thursday, February 20. The former Southern Conference rivals, both ranked in the Top 25 of the latest NJCAA poll, battled to the wire in a back-and-forth contest. With the win, the Pioneers improve to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in Citrus Conference play.

FSW struck first with a run in the top of the first inning, but the Pioneers responded quickly with a three-run outburst in the bottom half, fueled by key hits from Maikol Lucena, Jason Lashley, and Scout Simpson.

The Buccaneers regained the lead, 5-4, in the fifth inning, but Indian River kept them in check until the seventh. Lucena came through once again, ripping a double to right field to tie the game at five. The deadlock held until the bottom of the 11th, when sophomore Jake Weatherspoon stepped up with the bases loaded and delivered the game-winning hit.

On the mound, Sammy Beir and Justin Minaberry were dominant in relief, combining for 6.2 scoreless innings while striking out nine and allowing just three hits. Minaberry earned his first win of the season.

Offensively, the Pioneers racked up 14 hits, with Lucena, Weatherspoon, and Lashley leading the charge. The trio combined for seven hits and four RBIs, anchoring the middle of the lineup.

Indian River will hit the road Saturday to face Florida Southwestern in a Citrus Conference doubleheader to close out the series.

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