February 12, 2022
Ellerts' Gem, Melendez's Slam Salvage Split For Bucs in Palatka
Magnus Ellerts threw five one-hit innings and Axel Melendez crushed a 2nd inning grand slam to lead the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers past the East Georgia State Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Palatka, giving the Bucs a split on the day after dropping their first contest of the day to Pensacola State late 9-6.
PALATKA, Fla.- Magnus Ellerts threw five one-hit innings and Axel Melendez crushed a 2nd inning grand slam to lead the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers past the East Georgia State Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Palatka, giving the Bucs a split on the day after dropping their first contest of the day to Pensacola State late 9-6.
After an error laden game Friday night, the Bucs were having visions of dejavu Saturday morning as the first batter they faced in the top of the 1st inning hit a groundball to shortstop and the ball was mishandled to give Pensacola State their first chance of the contest. The miscue came back to hurt the Bucs as Pensacola went on to score four times in the frame, two of the runs being unearned after the error, to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead after a half inning of play.
The Bucs got a run back in the bottom of the 1st, but another defensive mistake by the FSW infield gifted Pensacola two more runs, giving the Pirates a 6-1 lead after an inning and a half.
Hunter Fitz-Gerald ripped a two out double down the right field line to plate two in the bottom of the 2nd to get the Bucs back to within three at 6-3 but Pensacola again answered with a run in the 3rd to make it 7-3 after two and a half.
FSW reliever Riley Skeen kept the Pirates at bay from there, putting up goose eggs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th frames, allowing the Bucs to attempt a late game comeback, which they started with a three run home run from Jose Izarra in the 6th to get back to within one at 7-6.
The Bucs couldn't put up another zero in the 7th as the Pirates scored twice on three hits to stretch their lead back to three at 9-6 and FSW couldn't mound a rally in the bottom of the frame as Pensacola closed them out 9-6 to send the Bucs to their second consecutive loss.
The Pirates outhit the Bucs 10-8 in the contest. Fitz-Gerald finished 2-4 with a double and two RBIs while Izarra was 1-3 with the 6th inning three run homer. Skeen was a bright spot on the mound for the Bucs, going 3 1/3 innings and allowing just one hit while striking out five. Ben Peterson took the loss, failing to get an out while allowing four runs, two earned to fall to 1-1 on the year.
The Bucs didn't have much time to think about the loss as they turned right back around and took on East Georgia State in the second game of their split doubleheader.
Fitz-Gerald stayed red hot with another RBI double to get the Bucs on the board in the 1st and Axel Melendez crushed a grand slam out to right to quickly give FSW a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half of play.
That was more than enough for Bucs starter Magnus Ellerts who cruised through five innings of one hit baseball to keep it a 5-0 game.
The Bucs added to their lead in the 6th as a Bobcat error and a sacrifice fly from Paxton Tomaini plated a pair before Fitz-Gerald ripped his third run scoring double of the day to make it 8-0.
Ellerts finally gave way to the Bucs pen in the 6th and Grant Besser did the rest, striking out the side in his first inning of work and working a 1-2-3 frame in the 7th to finish off the 8-0 shutout win for the Bucs.
Ellerts and Besser each allowed just one hit in the ballgame, Ellerts going five innings and striking out seven, while Besser tossed two and punched out four. Fitz-Gerald finished 3-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs while Melendez had the big blow with the 2nd inning slam, finishing 1-3 with a homer and the four RBIs.
The Bucs move to 8-5 on the season with the split.
FSW will wrap up their trip to Palatka when they take on the host Vikings of St. Johns River at 1:00 Sunday afternoon.