Pirates Go 2-2 to Open Season

The Pirates kicked off their 2024 campaign per usual at the JUCO Kickoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida this past weekend. While the weekend started off bumpy, Pensacola was able to rebound on Saturday and finish 2-2. Continue reading below for individual game recaps.

St. Petersburg 7 PSC 4

Pensacola started the game with a bang when Kylee Crowder blasted a 3-run home run to center to put PSC up 3-0 in the first. St. Pete responded with two runs of their own in the second inning to make it 3-2.

Errors plagued the Pirates throughout the game and the Titans were able to take a 7-3 lead going into the final inning. Pensacola used a triple from Gabbie York and double from McKenna Dunlap to plate one more run and make the final score 7-4.

Dunlap was 2-for-4 in the game with a double and RBI. Kylie Jarman came on in relief and took the loss, but PSC pitchers did not allow any earned runs in the game.

Parkland 4 PSC 0

In the second game of the day Pensacola could not get any offense going against the Parkland Cobras and they fell 4-0.

Abby Mclean had a pinch-hit double in the seventh as the only bright spot for PSC.

Polk State 7 PSC 15 (5 innings)

The Pirate offense finally came alive in the first game on Saturday and secured a run rule victory.

After allowing Polk to score one run in the top of the first, Pensacola used a combination and walks and hits in their half of the inning to take a 4-1 lead.

An error and four hits from Polk gave them a 6-4 lead in the top of the third, but PSC responded right away in the bottom of the inning. With two runners on Kasey Markusic smashed a ball over the fence in center to make it 7-6 Pirates. The offense continued to pour in in the fourth when Abbie Morris reached on an error and later scored on a single from Marina Goins. A combination of passes balls, walks and RBI single from Gabbie York extended the Pirate lead to 12-6 in the fourth.

The Pirates ended the game early when Kasey Markusic drove in Kylee Crowder to achieve the 8-run lead mercy rule.

Marina Goins was 4-for-4 with a double and RBI. Kasey Markusic was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI while Gabbie York was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI.

Kylie Jarman came in for relief in the third and picked up the win while striking out five and only allowing three hits.

PSC 3 Santa Fe 2

In the final game of the weekend Pensacola's defense held tough and they topped the Saints 3-2.

PSC scored their runs in the top of the third when Abbie Morris led off with a single and eventually scored courtesy of a passed ball. Karri Pritchard reached on a hit by pitch and Kylee Crowder on a walk and they both scored on an error to give Pensacola the 3-0 lead.

Santa Fe used three hits in the bottom of the inning to pull within one, but Kylie Jarman buckled down on the mound and the Pirates won despite only having a single hit in the game.

Jarman added her second win of the day throwing a complete game and striking out four while scattering six hits.

Pensacola will host a tournament this weekend on Friday and Saturday.