March 4, 2023
FSW Splits Low Scoring Twinbill With Seminole
Despite the wind blowing out all day, runs were at a premium Saturday afternoon at Buccaneers Park as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers and the Seminole State Raiders split a low scoring doubleheader with Seminole holding off the Bucs for a 5-4 win in game one before FSW walked off the Raiders in game two 2-1 for the split.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Despite the wind blowing out all day, runs were at a premium Saturday afternoon at Buccaneers Park as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers and the Seminole State Raiders split a low scoring doubleheader with Seminole holding off the Bucs for a 5-4 win in game one before FSW walked off the Raiders in game two 2-1 for the split.
In game one it was Seminole striking first, getting a pair of big two out hits to take an early 4-0 lead.
The Bucs answered in the bottom of the 2nd, taking advantage of a Seminole error to extend the inning and Anthony Westbrook collected a two out RBI single to get FSW on the board at 4-1.
FSW starter Tyler Kennedy punched out the side in the 3rd and put up another zero in the 4th, but the Bucs couldn't get anything going offensively as it remained a 4-1 game at the end of four complete.
The Bucs had a chance to get right back in it in the 5th as they put two on with one out, but a pop up on the infield and a strikeout ended the threat and kept Seminole up by three with two innings to go.
Seminole got a big insurance run in the 6th to make it 5-1 which is where it went to the 7th and final inning of play.
The Bucs made some noise in their final at bats as Westbrook remained red hot with a double to lead off the inning and Johnnie Lopez step in as a pinch hitter and crushed his third home run of the year out to right to get the Bucs back to within two with one swing of the bat at 5-3. An RBI double from Joel Gardner later in the inning got the Bucs to within one, but back to back strikeouts doused the fire as Seminole held on to win the opener 5-4.
The Bucs outhit the Raiders 9-7 in the game as Westbrook picked up two more hits while driving in one and scoring another and Gardner had two hits including a double and an RBI. Kennedy was collared with the loss, falling to 1-3 on the year, going four innings and allowing five hits and four runs while striking out five. Reyn Watson threw three solid innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one run and picking up four strikeouts.
Game two was an old fashioned pitcher's dual from the onset.
Through three innings, a pair of pitchers making their first starts of the year had the opposition baffled as FSW's Lucas Hartman held Seminole to just one hit through three and the Raiders' Jack Anges and Garrett Brewer had a no-hitter intact as the teams went to the 4th scoreless.
Seminole finally cracked the scoreboard in the 5th with a one out walk and a double down the line to take a 1-0 lead.
The Bucs got their first hit of the game from Yariel Diaz with two outs in the 5th and after back to back errors on the infield for the Raiders, the Bucs were back to even at 1-1 at the end of five.
Both sides went in order in the 6th and Bucs reliever Colin Brodeur worked a 1-2-3 top of the 7th to keep it a 1-1 game.
Nate Earley got a tough left on left hit with one out in the bottom of the 7th and moved into scoring position on a four pitch walk to Aries Samek. Austin Douglas was hit by a pitch to load the bases and force the Raiders back to their bullpen and after falling in a 1-2 hole, AJ Shaver ripped a single to left to bring Earley home and give the Bucs a walk off 2-1 win for the split.
The game featured just six hits, three a side with Shaver the offensive hero for FSW going 1-2 with a pair of walks in the win. The Bucs pitching was the story as Hartman went three shutout frames, striking out four in his spot start while Brodeur earned the win, going four one hit innings, allowing just one run for his first win as a Buc.
The split takes FSW to 14-9 on the year while Seminole moves to 15-9.
The Bucs will have one last tuneup before conference play starts next Wednesday as they travel to Tampa to take on Hillsborough in a 2:30 first pitch on Monday to wrap up non-conference play.