March 8, 2021
Bucs Bench Comes Up Big to Give #20 FSW Series Opener Over Hillsborough
For most of Monday afternoon's Suncoast Conference contest between #20 Florida SouthWestern and Hillsborough, the Bucs offense struggled to string anything together as they trailed 4-2 heading into the 7th inning of action. That's when Head Coach Ben Bizier started pushing the buttons off his bench and he seemed to push the right one on nearly every occasion, as the Bucs got three big hits from pinch hitters in the final three innings, including a two run home run from Ronny Medina and a two run single from Noah Heisler to come from behind for an 8-4 win in the series opener.
TAMPA, Fla.- For most of Monday afternoon's Suncoast Conference contest between #20 Florida SouthWestern and Hillsborough, the Bucs offense struggled to string anything together as they trailed 4-2 heading into the 7th inning of action. That's when Head Coach Ben Bizier started pushing the buttons off his bench and he seemed to push the right one on nearly every occasion, as the Bucs got three big hits from pinch hitters in the final three innings, including a two run home run from Ronny Medina and a two run single from Noah Heisler to come from behind for an 8-4 win in the series opener.
As they did in the originally scheduled series opener on Saturday before the rain came, the Bucs took a 1st inning lead when Christian Lucio drove home a run with an RBI single to give FSW a quick 1-0 advantage on the Hawks.
Hillsborough tied the game with a solo home run in the 2nd before FSW retook the lead on a double steal in the 4th to make it 2-1.
Hillsborough put up a three spot in the bottom of the 4th on a pair of two out knocks to push back in front 4-2.
It remained a 4-2 game through six when the Bucs started to work their late game magic.
A pinch hit double for Jared Campbell got the Bucs going in the 7th and he scored when Warnner Rincones ripped a single to center to make it 4-3.
They were back at it in the 8th as Lucio walked to lead off the inning and scored on a misplayed fly ball on the infield by the Hawks to tie the game at 4. Head Coach Ben Bizier went to his bench again with one on and two out and again pushed the right button, getting a two run bomb from Ronny Medina to give the Bucs the lead back at 6-4.
Closer Antonio Knowles came out of the Bucs bullpen and dialed up a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th against the heart of the Hawk order to keep it a 6-4 game in favor of FSW.
A pair of walks for the Bucs in the 9th set the table once again and Noah Heisler, who came in as a pinch hitter two innings earlier, delivered a two run single to left to extend the FSW lead to 8-4.
The insurance was nice, but they didn't need it as Knowles continued his domination on the mound, striking out two more as he retired the side in order in the bottom of the 9th to lock down his 7th save of the year and finish off the 8-4 win for the Bucs.
The Bucs bullpen was outstanding as Ronaldo Fernandez threw three scoreless innings through the middle to earn his first win as a Buc before Knowles came in and diced the Hawks up in the final two frames for another save. FSW finished with seven hits in the victory, much of their damage coming off the bench as both Medina and Heisler came in as reserves to pick up a hit and two RBIs for the Bucs.
#20 FSW improves to 19-8 overall and 3-1 in Suncoast Conference play with the win while Hillsborough falls to 7-11 and 1-3 in league action.
The Bucs and Hawks will be back at it tomorrow at City of Palms Park where they will begin Saturday's suspended game in the 3rd inning with FSW leading 2-0. First pitch, sort of, is scheduled for 2 PM.