Softball team hosts Indian River in conference opener Wednesday

The Eastern Florida State College softball team opens the Southern Conference schedule Wednesday at Titan Softball Complex on the Melbourne campus.

The Titans, who are 16-11 on the season, will host No. 9 Indian River State College in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

Indian River State College is 2-0 in the conference after sweeping Miami Dade ina. Doubleheader on Saturday and is 17-4 overall.

"It's not just geography, Indian River seems to be our biggest rival for a lot of reasons and I am very confident that our team will come ready to play," Eastern Florida State College women's softball coach Jim Beitia said. "They are excited to face Indian River and begin the conference season."

The Titans won the only meeting between the two teams last season and is 2-4 in the past six meetings. Indian River comes into the contest on a seven-game winning streak after sweeping Miami Dade on Saturday.

Indian River is led by Jaden Williamson who comes into the doubleheader hitting .521 with 24 stolen bases and is also 7-1 with an 2.71 ERA on the mound for the Pioneers.

The Titans are getting healthy at the right time of the season and with Trinity Howard and Shaniyah Pope back healthy, the team is ready for a tough conference schedule.

"For us, it's all about qualifying for the state tournament and that comes down to how we play over the next 16 conference games,"Beitia said. "All of the games so far have prepared us for this and I think we are ready to go. 

Howard comes into Wednesday leading Region VIII in strikeouts with 71 and has 10 wins which is second in the state.

As a team the Titans are eighth in the state in team ERA with a 3.01 ERA. Pope and Danielle Branton are both back on the mound after injuries.

"I think we can beat anyone with our pitchers on the mound," Beitia said.

Following Wednesday's doubleheader, the Titans will travel to Miami to play Miami Dade in a conference doubleheader on Friday beginning at 1 p.m.