April 15, 2021
Bucs Launch Eight Homers in Sweep of Polk
The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put on a hitting clinic Thursday night in Winter Haven as they took on the Polk State Eagles in Suncoast Conference play. FSW racked up 22 hits and 22 runs, including eight home runs, sweeping the Eagles 14-1 and 8-0 in a pair of run rule victories.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put on a hitting clinic Thursday night in Winter Haven as they took on the Polk State Eagles in Suncoast Conference play. FSW racked up 22 hits and 22 runs, including eight home runs, sweeping the Eagles 14-1 and 8-0 in a pair of run rule victories.
It didn't take long for the Bucs to get going on Thursday as Rebeca Laudino led off the game with a bunt single and three pitches later Lindsey Corbin launched a two run home run to put FSW up 2-0. After a pair of walks, it was showtime again, this time with Feline Poot crushing a three run shot to left to make it 5-0.
The Bucs assault on Eagle pitching continued in the 3rd as Taylor Jensen lifted off on a two run home run to push the lead to 7-0 and two pitches later Poot ripped her second round tripper of the game to make it 8-0.
Polk got their lone run of the game in the bottom of the 3rd, but FSW was right back at it in the 4th, getting an RBI double from Corbin and then a three run bomb from Natavia Ellis to blow the game open to 12-1.
FSW added two more in the 5th for good measure and Sarah Clontz came in and finished Polk out in the circle for a 14-1 five inning run rule win.
The Bucs homered five times in the win as Poot was 2-3 with two long balls and four RBIs, Jensen was 2-2 with a homer and two RBIs, Corbin was 3-3 with a homer and three RBIs, and Ellis was 1-1 with a homer, three RBIs, and three runs scored in the win. Alyssa O'Donnell improved to 16-1 on the year in the circle, going four innings and allowing four hits and one run to earn the victory for FSW.
It took the Bucs a little bit longer to get going in game two, but a sacrifice fly from Charlotte Drijvers in the 2nd gave them a 1-0 lead after two complete innings of action.
Laudino got the Bucs started with another bunt single in the 3rd and after a fielder's choice groundout for the first out of the inning, Chelsea Brown cracked a two run home run to dead center to put the Bucs up 3-0.
Alyson Marcum came out of the Bucs bullpen and tossed perfect frames in the 3rd and 4th to keep it a 3-0 game as the teams went to the 5th.
Corbin led off the FSW 5th with a solo home run to push the lead to 4-0 and two batters later Poot lifted her third home run of the day up and out the other way to make it 5-0.
Zoe Riley was hit by a pitch to begin the Bucs half of the 6th and came around to score on an RBI triple from Owen Bowers to make it a 6-0 game. The Bucs scored their second run of the inning on a wild pitch and Brown drove home their third with a single to right to make it 8-0 FSW at the end of 5 1/2.
Marcum finished the Eagles off in the bottom of the inning, getting three straight groundouts in a 1-2-3 frame to kick in the run rule in an 8-0 Buccaneer victory.
The Bucs outhit the Eagles 10-1 in the game with Brown going 2-4 with a homer and three RBIs to lead the way and Poot going 2-3 with a home run of her own in the win. Emily Perrin tossed two scoreless innings to start the game for FSW before handing the ball to Marcum who earned her fourth win of the season with four hitless frames while striking out six.
The Bucs have won 17 games in a row and now sit at 34-3 overall and a perfect 15-0 in Suncoast Conference play. Polk State falls to 4-20 overall and 4-12 in league action.
FSW will have a chance to win their fifth straight Suncoast Conference Championship their next time out when they host St. Petersburg Tuesday at City of Palms Park in a doubleheader beginning at 5 PM.