January 29, 2021
Bucs Celebrate Anniversary of First Game With Win
Five years ago to the day, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers played their first game in program history as they hosted the ASA Miami Silver Storm at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers, winning 5-1. Friday, the two renewed acquaintances on the same day, in the same setting, once again with the Bucs coming out on top, this time by a score of 10-2.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Five years ago to the day, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers played their first game in program history as they hosted the ASA Miami Silver Storm at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers, winning 5-1. Friday, the two renewed acquaintances on the same day, in the same setting, once again with the Bucs coming out on top, this time by a score of 10-2.
FSW starter Carlos Rodriguez was locked in early on, striking out four through his first three innings of work to give the Bucs a chance to take an early lead in the contest.
The Bucs did just that as Matthew Corpas lifted a sacrifice fly deep to left field to get FSW on the board and Jared Campbell fisted a two run single over a drawn in infield to make it 3-0 Bucs in the 3rd. A failed pick off attempt led to the Bucs' fourth run of the inning as they took a 4-0 lead after three against the Silver Storm.
Rodriguez continued to dominate through the next two innings, holding the FSW lead right there at 4-0, finishing his outing after five innings of shutout baseball before turning it over to the Bucs bullpen.
It remained a 4-0 game to the bottom of the 6th when the Bucs added a run on a successful double steal to push their lead to five.
ASA broke through for the first time in the game following a Buccaneer error in the 7th, getting a two out single up the middle to plate two to make it a 5-2 game.
A leadoff triple by Kendry Noriega and a wild pitch allowed FSW to cushion their lead to 6-2 and the Bucs blew the game open in the 8th, scoring four times, highlighted by back to back two out RBI singles from Yadiel Santana and Luis Tuero to open up a 10-2 lead for the home team.
That was more than enough for Alex Ayala who struck out a pair in his fourth inning of work out of the bullpen to close the Silver Storm out and pick up his first career save with the Bucs.
The Bucs had nine hits in the game and took advantage of 10 free passes from ASA pitching. Warnner Rincones had a big game at the top of the lineup, going 3-4 with a double and two runs scored, while also stealing four bases to give him 50 in his FSW career. The reining FCSAA Pitcher of the Week, Rodriguez, shined again going five shutout innings, allowing four hits, all singles, while punching out seven. Ayala went four frames, allowing just two hits and two unearned runs while whiffing eight Silver Storm batters.
The Bucs improve to 5-1 on the year with the victory while ASA Miami remains winless at 0-3. FSW has now won 17 straight against ASA in the two team's series history.
The Bucs and Silver Storm will hook up again on Saturday in a quick turnaround when they play a doubleheader beginning at 10 AM at City of Palms Park.