February 14, 2022
Bucs Drop Another One Run Battle
For the third time in three days, the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers dropped a one run game Monday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers as Indian River scored an 8th inning run to beat the Bucs 4-3 to drop FSW to 8-7 on the year.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- For the third time in three days, the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers dropped a one run game Monday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers as Indian River scored an 8th inning run to beat the Bucs 4-3 to drop FSW to 8-7 on the year.
Indian River struck first in the 2nd, loading the bases with nobody out and using a groundout and a sacrifice fly to take an early 2-0 lead on the Bucs.
FSW didn't have anything going offensively until the 5th when Hunter Fitz-Gerald doubled for the fifth straight game to begin the frame and moved to third when the Bucs loaded the bases after a single from Simon Baumer and a walk to Jose Izarra. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Kalvin Alexander delivered for the Bucs, ripped a double down the left field line and into the corner to clear the bases and give FSW their first lead of the game at 3-2.
The lead didn't last long though as the Pioneers answered right back with a two out RBI single in the 6th to tie the game back up at 3.
After a scoreless 7th, the game flew to the 8th still tied at 3.
A leadoff single for the Pioneers, followed by a controversial balk call put a runner in scoring position with nobody out for Indian River in the 8th. A single to left put runners on the corners with nobody out and a sac fly to right brought a run home to put Indian River back in front 4-3.
The Bucs put runners on in both the 8th and 9th innings, but couldn't come through with the big hit to tie the game back up and went on to fall 4-3 for their fourth loss in three days.
FSW finished with just five hits in the loss, Paxton Tomaini picking up two of them, while Alexander drove in all three runs for the Bucs with his 5th inning double. Holden Wade took the loss on the mound for the Bucs, allowing two hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings of work to fall to 0-1 on the year. Grant Besser was outstanding again in relief, throwing two scoreless frames, striking out five.
The Bucs fall to 8-7 on the year while Indian River improves to 7-3 with their first win over FSW in program history.
FSW will look to rebound on Wednesday when they travel South to Miami to take on #8 Miami Dade in a non-conference tilt set for 2 PM.