February 26, 2026
Bucs Blast Five Homers In Series Opening Win
The #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers opened their three game Citrus Conference series with the Santa Fe Saints in style on Thursday, pounding out 15 hits and launching five home runs in an 11-8 victory to take over sole possession of first place in the league standings in week three.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers opened their three game Citrus Conference series with the Santa Fe Saints in style on Thursday, pounding out 15 hits and launching five home runs in an 11-8 victory to take over sole possession of first place in the league standings in week three.
The Bucs got off to a quick start as Nick April-Gath walked to lead off the bottom of the 1st and promptly scored on an RBI double from Bishop Quarles one batter later to put FSW in front 1-0.
The Bucs had a chance for more in the 2nd as they put two on with nobody out but a highlight reel defensive play for the Saints followed by back to back strikeouts shut the rally down and kept it a 1-0 game to the 3rd.
FSW opened the door for the Saints in the top of the 3rd, loading the bases on three walks, but Andy Hernandez came in out of the bullpen and worked his way out of the jam to keep the Bucs in front.
For the second straight inning, the Bucs loaded the bases for the Saints without a Santa Fe hit after a trio of walks, including one intentional, and after playing with fire one too many times, the Bucs finally got burned as Santa Fe came through with a two out bases clearing double to take their first lead of the game at 3-1.
The Saints didn't remain in front long though as Evan Taveras crushed a two run home run out to left center to tie the game at 3 in the bottom of the 4th and April-Gath found a hole on the left side to drive home another run later in the inning to put the Bucs back ahead 4-3.
The back and forth continued in the 6th as three straight hits to begin the top half of the frame netted the Saints the equalizer and later in the inning a sacrafice fly to right put them back on top 5-4.
The Bucs punched back right away in the bottom of the 6th as Aiden Talarico launched a solo home run to left to even the score at 5 and moments later Jonah St. Antoine shot a two run single the other way to put the Bucs back in front 7-5. The Saints went to the bullpen but it provided little relief as Cris Walley welcomed the Santa Fe reliever with a towering two run home run to right center to five the Bucs a five run inning and a 9-5 lead at the end of six.
The Saints missed another golden opportunity in the 7th, loading the bases for the third time in the game, but also for the second time, couldn't come through with the big hit as a ground ball to third ended the threat and kept the Bucs on top 9-5 at stretch time.
The Bucs added to their lead in the bottom of the 7th as Talarico unloaded on a no doubter solo home run to left to make it 10-5 FSW.
In the 8th it was St. Antoine's turn to join the home run parade as he pulled a solo shot of his own down the right field line to pad the Bucs lead to 11-5.
Santa Fe made some noise in their final cracks, scoring three times and putting the tying run on base, but their last swing came up just short, dying on the warning track in left as FSW hung on for an 11-8 win in the opener.
The Bucs banged out 15 hits including five homers in the win. Talarico finished 3-4 with two home runs and three runs scored while St. Antoine was also 3-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Judd Hildreth earned the win out of the FSW bullpen, going two scoreless frames to improve to 2-0 on the year. Nicholas Lorenz came into a mess in the 9th to earn his fourth save of the year and eighth career to tie him for second place in program history alongside current Savannah Banana Grant Besser.
FSW improves to 15-4 overall and takes over first place in the Citrus Conference standings with a 6-1 mark while Santa Fe falls to 11-9 overall and 1-6 in league play.
The two teams will be back in action on Saturday in Gainesville with first pitch of a doubleheader to close out the series set to be thrown at noon.
