Bucs Win Wild Series Opener Over Falcons
It wasn’t the prettiest afternoon for the #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers, but at the end of the day, they found themselves on top of a wild 16-12 decision over the Daytona State Falcons, taking back sole possession of first place in the Citrus Conference standings in the process.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- It wasn't the prettiest afternoon for the #6 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers, but at the end of the day, they found themselves on top of a wild 16-12 decision over the Daytona State Falcons, taking back sole possession of first place in the Citrus Conference standings in the process.
Things got off to a bit of a sloppy start for the Bucs as they gave up two free passes and made a pair of 1st inning errors to allow Daytona to jump out to an early 2-0 lead after a half inning of play.
They bounced right back though, getting an RBI double from Aiden Talarico and back to back two out RBI singles from Robbie Demetree and Keenan Jabeth to flip the script and take their first lead of the game at 4-2 at the end of a wild 1st inning of play.
After picking up two quick outs in the 2nd the Bucs ran into some trouble as four straight Falcon hitters reached including a two run triple to tie the score back at up 4 after 1 ½.
The Bucs took advantage of a two out Daytona miscue to extend the inning in the 2nd, drawing back to back walks to load the bases and then force a run home to retake a 5-4 lead at the end of two.
FSW added another in the 3rd on a bases loaded sacrifice fly from Bishop Quarles to make it 6-4 but a crucial two out error by the Bucs in the top of the 4th allowed two runs to score to tie the game and a wild pitch yielded Daytona their third run of the inning to give the Falcons a 7-6 lead after 3 ½.
Jabeth hit his third home run of the season off the top of the center field wall to lead off the FSW 5th to tie the game at 7.
The game didn't remain tied long though as four straight hits from Daytona in the 6th netted them a pair of runs to go back ahead 9-7.
Once again the Bucs couldn't get off the field with two outs in the 7th and once again free passes contributed to a crooked number for the Falcons as with two out and nobody on a hit batter, back to back walks, another hit batter, and a fourth walk in the inning gave Daytona two runs without putting the ball in play to extend their lead to 11-7.
Daytona handed the Bucs the runs right back in the bottom of the inning as back to back two out bases loaded walks forced home runs to make it 11-9 and a hit batter and a dropped third strike allowed two more to score without the ball being put in play by the Bucs to tie the game at 11. Jabeth did put one in play, a line drive single to left to drive home FSW's fifth and six runs of the inning to give the Bucs the lead back at 13-11.
With two outs and two on in the 8th the Bucs got some insurance as Aiden Talarico launched his team leading 15th home run of the season out to left, a three run shot to pad the FSW advantage to 16-11.
Daytona kept fighting, pushing one across and bringing the tying run to the on deck circle, but Nicholas Lorenz closed them out in the 9th to give FSW a wild 16-12 win in the series opener.
Talarico and Jabeth each had three hits in the win for the Bucs, both homering and combining for nine RBIs for FSW.
Judd Hildreth stole a win out of the Bucs bullpen, improving to 4-0 on the year despite throwing just two of the eight pitches he fired in the strike zone. Lorenz earned his seventh save of the year with two innings of one run ball to settle things down and close things out late.
FSW improves to 27-7 overall and 15-4 in Citrus Conference play where coupled with Central Florida's loss to Seminole State, the Bucs take over first place in the league standings all to themselves. Daytona State loses for the sixth time in the last seven outs, falling to 14-18 overall and 8-10 in Citrus action.
The same two teams will hook up once again on Saturday in Daytona with first pitch of the doubleheader beginning at noon.
