March 15, 2023
Bullpen Locks Down Sharks For Series Opening Win
Marty Gair threw five strong innings and the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers' bullpen threw four scoreless to close it out as the Bucs took down #20 Miami Dade 5-2 in the two teams' Southern Conference series opener Wednesday in Kendall.
KENDALL, Fla.- Marty Gair threw five strong innings and the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers' bullpen threw four scoreless to close it out as the Bucs took down #20 Miami Dade 5-2 in the two teams' Southern Conference series opener Wednesday in Kendall.
The Bucs got on the board first as they mounted a two out rally in the top of the 1st to load the bases before Albert Serrano was walked to force home a run and give FSW an early 1-0 lead.
Miami Dade threatened for the first time in the bottom of the 2nd, loading the bases with nobody out, but FSW starter Marty Gair got a key double play ball before inducing a pop up on the infield to get out of the jam and keep the Bucs in front 1-0.
Gair dialed it in from there, retiring six of the seven hitters he saw in the 3rd and 4th innings, but the Bucs offense couldn't take advantage as the game flew to the 5th with the score still 1-0 in favor of FSW.
The Sharks finally broke through against Gair in the 5th as a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with nobody out for the second time in the ballgame, but this time Miami Dade cashed in, taking advantage of a Buccaneer error and a groundout to score twice and take their first lead of the game at 2-1.
The Bucs answered right back in the 6th as they scored a run without the benefit of a hit to level the score back at 2 a piece.
FSW went to the bullpen in the 6th and Yehoshua Garcia worked a scoreless frame and the Bucs were blanked in the top of the 7th to send the game to stretch time deadlocked at 2.
The Bucs found themselves in some trouble in the bottom of the 7th as the Sharks loaded the bases once again, but FSW reliever Colin Brodeur induced a tailor made 6-4-3 double play to escape the fire and keep the game tied at 2.
With momentum on their side, the Bucs took advantage in the 8th as they packed the pillows on a single and a pair of walks before Serrano worked his second bases loaded walk of the game to force home a run and put FSW on top 3-2. One batter later Nate Earley beat out a double play ball at first allowing another run to score to cushion the Bucs lead to 4-2 at the end of 7 1/2.
FSW called upon their third reliever of the game in the 8th in the form of Lucas Hartman and he was lights out, working a 1-2-3 frame without the ball leaving the infield to keep the Bucs up by two as the teams went to the 9th.
Two more walks, a solen base, and a wild pitch allowed the Bucs to add an insurance run in the 9th , but they wouldn't need it as Hartman worked his second straight 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the 9th to close out a 5-2 win for FSW.
It wasn't the prettiest game overall as there were 35 plate appearances in which the ball didn't get put in play (14 walks, 3 hit batters, and 18 strikeouts) while the teams finished with just five hits a piece. Aries Samek finished 2-4 for the Bucs while Serrano had a unique final line, going 0-1 with two RBIs on a pair of bases loaded walks.
Gair went five innings, scattering four hits and allowing one earned run while striking out four, but didn't factor into the decision. Brodeur earned the win to move to 3-0 on the year after escaping the bases loaded jam in the 7th. Hartman retired all six hitters he faced to close things out and earn his third save of the year.
FSW improves to 19-10 overall and 3-1 in Southern Conference play with the victory while the 20th ranked Sharks fall to 19-8-1 overall and suffer their first league loss to fall to 3-1.
The series will shift to Fort Myers and Buccaneers Park on Friday for a 2 PM first pitch before finishing up back in Kendall for the finale on Saturday.