Bucs Score 14 Unanswered in Blowout Win
The #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers got off to a slow start Thursday in their Citrus Conference series opener against the Eastern Florida State Titans, but roared back with 14 unanswered runs capped by a walk off home run from Aiden Talarico to kick in the run rule as FSW blasted the Titans 14-2 to improve to 21-6 on the year.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers got off to a slow start Thursday in their Citrus Conference series opener against the Eastern Florida State Titans, but roared back with 14 unanswered runs capped by a walk off home run from Aiden Talarico to kick in the run rule as FSW blasted the Titans 14-2 to improve to 21-6 on the year.
The Bucs had to play from behind early on as Eastern pushed across a pair of 1st inning runs to get out to a quick 2-0 lead.
FSW responded right away as Bishop Quarles blasted a two run home run to the gap in right center to tie things up and later in the inning Aiden Talarico lifted a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the Bucs third run of the inning to put them ahead 3-2 after one.
Bucs starter Cole Greer worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the 2nd and the FSW offense was right back at it in the bottom of the inning as Quarles singled through the right side to drive home a run to make it 4-2 and later in the inning an RBI single from Elijah Coston had FSW up 7-2 at the end of two.
FSW added to their lead in the 4th as Coston walked with two outs to extend the inning before Robbie Demetree lifted a two run home run out to center to pad the Bucs advantage to 9-2.
The Bucs put the game away in the 5th as Quarles continued his big day with a hustle double up the middle to bring home a run and make it 10-2 and after an RBI single from Jonah St. Antoine, Talarico hit his second run rule walk off home run in three games with a three run shot to finish things off 14-2 in favor of the Purple and Aqua.
Quarles finished a perfect 3-3 in the win, falling just a triple shy of the cycle while driving in four runs. Talarico drove in four as well, going 2-4 with a homer and double of his own. Greer was overshadowed by the offense in the win, but threw a complete game on the mound for the Bucs, facing the minimum after the two run 1st. He improves to 3-0 on the year.
The Bucs win their fourth straight to improve to 21-6 overall and remain in first place in the Citrus Conference standings at 10-3 while Eastern Florida falls to 12-14 overall and 6-7 in league action.
The two teams will shift the series to Melbourne on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled for noon at Bruce Bochy Park.