The River Splits at Miami Dade

MIAMI, FL- Indian River suffered a tough last-inning loss on the road at Miami Dade on Tuesday, April 22. The River fell 3-2 in a game that went down to the wire. Indian River took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh when the Sharks got their leadoff on via an uncharacteristic infield error. They capitalized on a second error of the inning and tied the game at 2 with one out. Miami Dade's center fielder and nine hitter in the lineup then drove in the winning run over the drawn-in outfield.

Indian River struck early, taking a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Braylee Shields. The River added another run to take a 2-0 lead in the third off an RBI single by Presley Smith. Miami Dade cut the lead in half with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame, and the one-run deficit remained until the come-from-behind rally in the final at-bat of the game.

Offensively, Kassidy Pontbriant led the team with two hits, while the offense added six additional runners via base on balls, with Sarah Phipps and Anaise Piar each earning two. Pitcher J'dah Girigorie threw 6 and a third innings, allowing just five hits and only one earned run. She added six strikeouts and walked none.

The River bounced back in the nightcap of the doubleheader, earning a 5-2 victory and taking three of four games on the season from Miami Dade. The Sharks took an early first-inning lead in this matchup, with The River quickly responding in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Part of the inning included singles by freshman Braylee Shields and Hezzy Seabrook, a walk drawn by Anaise Piar, and an RBI double from Sarah Phipps.

The lead was extended in the fifth inning when Presley Smith doubled to lead off the frame, scoring on an error forced by a Kassidy Pontbriant bunt. Smith, in her last at-bat of the game, blasted an opposite-field home run to extend The River's lead.

Shields and Smith each had two hits, with the offense adding four more baserunners on walks. The River was also aggressive on the base paths, stealing a total of seven bases, with Piar, Shields, and Seabrook each recording multiple swipes. The defense was solid, committing no errors, while Kassidy Pontbriant secured the win for Indian River in the circle. The sophomore lefty entered the game in relief, pitching three and two-thirds innings, allowing no runs on five hits and recording four strikeouts. Alexa Bethel started the game, pitching one and two-thirds innings and allowing two runs on five hits.

Next Up: Indian River faces College of Central Florida at home on Thursday, April 24th (4 PM and 6 PM).

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