Baseball team falls to Indian River State in series opener

The Eastern Florida State College baseball team fell to Indian River State College Thursday evening in the first game of a three-game series at Bruce Bochy Field.

The Titans fell to 5-5 in the Citrus Conference after the Pioneers picked up the 8-4 victory.

Starting pitchers Owen Simmons and Lucas Glendinning dueled for the first three innings as neither team would scored. But Indian River State College would break through in the fourth inning as Jacob Souza hit a two-run double and then scored a third run on a groundout.

They added a run in the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead but the Titans struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 4-3.

Pioneers leadoff hitter Brett Patten hit a two-run home run to make it 6-3 in the sixth and then added a run in the seventh inning. Down 7-3, Kevin Smith walked, stole second and then stole third and scored on the errant throw to third. The Titans had chances to score more in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Gustavo Mendez had two hits and Smith scored twice in the game.

Glendinning, who went to Viera High, picked up the win.

Eastern Florida State College will travel to Indian River State College on Saturday for a conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.