March 1, 2025
McLaughlin's Gem Salvages Saturday Split For Bucs
Andrew McLaughlin fired five shutout innings to lead the #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers to a 10-0 game one win over the Hillsborough Hawks Saturday afternoon in Tampa, but the Bucs couldn't win the second game of the doubleheader to take the series, falling 8-7 to drop to 16-5 on the year.
TAMPA, Fla.- Andrew McLaughlin fired five shutout innings to lead the #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers to a 10-0 game one win over the Hillsborough Hawks Saturday afternoon in Tampa, but the Bucs couldn't win the second game of the doubleheader to take the series, falling 8-7 to drop to 16-5 on the year.
Bucs starter Andrew McLaughlin was dialed in from the first pitch Saturday, striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 bottom of the 1st to get things going for FSW.
The Bucs struck first in the top of the 2nd as Nik Pereira was hit by a pitch to start the inning and later scored on a wild pitch before Alex Kuenzle laid down a safety squeeze to score Carlos Sanchez who doubled earlier in the frame to make it 2-0 FSW after two.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd as Pereira ripped a two out RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Hillsborough got a leadoff single for the second straight inning in the 3rd, but McLaughlin induced a double play ball one pitch later to erase the runner and keep the Bucs in front 3-0 after three.
FSW blew the game open in the 4th as Anthony Ruocco and Brock Knoerr picked up back to back one out RBI singles to pad the lead to 5-0 before Pereira came up clutch again with a two out RBI double to center to make it 7-0 Buccaneers after 3 1/2.
The Bucs added tow more in the 5th to extend the lead to 9-0 and McLaughlin went out with a statement inning in the bottom half of the frame, striking out the side to keep it that way into the 6th.
Pereira was in the middle of the action again in the 6th as he drew a seven pitch walk to start the Bucs half of the inning and scored on a double from Sanchez to give FSW a 10-0 lead on the Hawks.
With the run rule staring them down, Hillsborough couldn't find a way to keep the game going in the 6th as Logan O'Leary came in out of the FSW bullpen and threw up a goose egg to preserve the shutout and give the Bucs a 10-0 win in six.
FSW outhit Hillsborough 11 to 4 in the win with Pereira leading the way, going 2-2 with a double and three RBIs while reaching in all four plate appearances in the contest. Luke Orfi went 3-4, stole two bases, and scored twice while Sanchez was 2-4 with a double and an RBI for FSW. McLaughlin was nearly untouchable for the second straight outing, going five shutout innings, allowing just three hits, all singles, and striking out seven to earn the win and improve to 5-0 on the year.
With the series on the line in game two of the doubleheader, it was Hillsborough getting out to an early 1-0 lead with their first run of the afternoon in the 1st inning.
The Bucs answered right back as their first five hitters of the top of the 2nd reached base including an RBI single from Sanchez and a bases loaded walk to Ty Hamilton to put FSW in front 2-1. Later in the inning a dropped fly ball in the outfield that should have ended the inning allowed two more FSW runs to score to make it 4-1 Bucs after an inning and a half.
The Bucs couldn't get the shutdown inning they needed in the bottom of the 2nd after the four spot as a leadoff walk got Hillsborough going and three straight one out hits scored runs and tied the game up at 4.
The Bucs went to the bullpen in the 4th but it didn't slow down the Hawks momentum as Hillsborough got back to back two out hits to extend the inning and a three run home run to right to retake the lead 7-4 midway through.
The FSW offense couldn't get anything going through the middle innings and Hillsborough got a run on a wild pitch in the 6th to extend their lead to 8-4.
The Bucs finally broke through against the Hawk bullpen in the 8th as they loaded the bases with two outs before Sanchez cleared the bases with a double to center to get FSW back to within one at 8-7.
Bucs reliever Cole Greer fired a big 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th to give FSW a chance in the 9th down by just one, 8-7.
The Bucs got a leadoff walk to put the tying run on base, but a line drive double play stymied the FSW rally for the time being. Down to their final out Knoerr and Orfi picked up singles for the Bucs to keep them alive, but a line out ended the threat and the game with Hillsborough hanging on for an 8-7 win to take the series.
Sanchez led the way for the Bucs offense in the defeat, going 2-4 with their only extra base hit of the contest, a double, while driving in four. Robert Mitchell took the loss on the mound, allowing four hits and three runs in two innings of work to fall to 0-1 on the year. Greer worked four innings out of the bullpen to give the Bucs a chance, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out five.
FSW moves to 16-5 overall on the year with the split and takes a step back to the pack in Citrus Conference play to 6-3 where they are now in the middle of a group of five teams all tied for the league lead. Hillsborough remains at .500 overall at 10-10 while staying just one game back of the lead back at 5-4 in Citrus Conference play.
The Bucs will look to get back on track Tuesday when they return home to Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers for a non-conference contest against Pasco Hernando beginning at 2 PM.