February 12, 2026
Bucs Hammer Hawks in Citrus Opener
The defending Citrus Conference Champion Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers got their title defense off to a bang on Thursday, hammering the Hillsborough Hawks 13-5 in an eight inning run rule in game one of a split three game series between the two.
TAMPA, Fla.- The defending Citrus Conference Champion Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers got their title defense off to a bang on Thursday, hammering the Hillsborough Hawks 13-5 in an eight inning run rule in game one of a split three game series between the two.
Things didn't get off to the best start for the Bucs as after FSW went scoreless in the top of the 1st, Hillsborough cracked the third pitch of the bottom of the inning off the foul pole in right for a home run to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Bucs broke through in a big way in the 3rd as the first five hitters of the inning recorded hits including RBI knocks from Nick April-Gath, Jonah St. Antoine, and Greg Caban to put FSW in front 4-1. An RBI groundout from Cris Walley brought in the Bucs fifth run of the inning to give FSW a 5-1 lead after 2 1/2.
FSW added runs in the 4th and 5th to extend their lead to 7-2 and a two run single from Caban in the 6th made it 9-2 Bucs.
The Bucs bullpen let them down in the bottom of the 6th as three hit batters and a walk paved the way for a three run frame for Hillsborough to get the Hawks back in the game at 9-5.
The offense got the runs back and then some in the top of the 8th , scoring four times on just two hits to pad their advantage to 13-5.
With the run rule in the balance, the Bucs went to closer Nicholas Lorenz and he delivered with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8th with a pair of strikeouts to finish things off for FSW as the Bucs ended things early with a 13-5 victory after eight.
The Bucs outhit the Hawks 14-4 in the win, led by April-Gath and Caban who had three hits apiece while combining for five RBIs. Robbie Demetree reached base four times, going 2-3 with a pair of walks while also scoring two runs. Cole Greer earned the win on the mound, going four solid innings, allowing just two hits and two runs to move to 2-0 on the year.
FSW improves to 10-2 overall and wins their Citrus Conference opener while Hillsborough falls to 8-5 on the year.
The two teams will reconvene Saturday at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers to close out the series with a doubleheader beginning at noon.