February 22, 2022
Pitching, Clutch Hitting Leads FSW Past South Florida State
Four Florida SouthWestern State pitchers combined to allow just two runs in two games and Buccaneer hitters came through with eight two out RBIs as the top ranked Bucs breezed past the South Florida State Panthers 7-1 and 5-1 in a doubleheader sweep Tuesday night at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Four Florida SouthWestern State pitchers combined to allow just two runs in two games and Buccaneer hitters came through with eight two out RBIs as the top ranked Bucs breezed past the South Florida State Panthers 7-1 and 5-1 in a doubleheader sweep Tuesday night at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.
South Florida State came out swinging against the Bucs in game one of the doubleheader, getting a one out double and a two out single to get on the board and take an early 1-0 lead on FSW.
It remained a 1-0 game to the bottom of the 2nd when FSW created some traffic on the bases, getting their first run of the game on an RBI groundout from Caroline Figueroa followed by a two run bomb to left center from Charlotte Drijvers to put them ahead 3-1.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd when Shenita Tucker singled on a line drive to center and proceeded to steal second and third before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Pallas Potter to make it 4-1 Bucs.
FSW starter Baylee Haggard kept the Panthers at bay in the 4th and 5th and gave the Bucs a chance to extend their lead in the bottom of the 5th when McKenzie Wittenberg ripped a two run double to center to cushion the Bucs lead to 6-1.
The Bucs added an insurance tally in the 6th as Laura Vigna slapped a two out single up the middle to drive home a run to make it 7-1 and that is how it finished as Brooke Geiger came in from the FSW bullpen to close things out in the 7th to give the Bucs a 7-1 victory.
Haggard went six innings in the circle, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out a season high 10 to improve to a perfect 10-0 on the year for FSW. Vigna finished 2-4 with two stolen bases at the top of the Buccaneer order while Carys Platt was 2-3 and stole three bags at the bottom.
The Bucs used their speed to get things going in game two of the twinbill as Vigna walked and Shenita Tucker reached on a bunt single to put two on with nobody out. Later in the frame a single to right from Taylor Jensen chased two runs home and another FSW run scored on a South Florida State error to make it a 3-0 game. They weren't done yet though as with two outs Figueroa singled up the box to drive Jensen home, pushing the Bucs lead to 4-0 after an inning of action.
Samantha Smith kept the Panthers off balance from there, working through four scoreless innings in the circle for the Bucs to keep it a 4-0 game.
An FSW error in the 6th finally allowed the Panthers to get on the board in game two, but the Bucs got it right back in the bottom of the frame on a sac fly from Vigna to make it 5-1.
South Florida showed some fight in their final at bats as they loaded the bases with one out in the 7th and looked like they were going to put the tying run aboard, but Tucker made a diving play in center to stymie the rally and FSW went on to win it 5-1 to sweep the doubleheader.
The two sides each had six hits in the contest with Tucker leading the Bucs with a 2-2 effort and three stolen bases while Jensen went 1-3 with a pair of runs driven home. Smith earned the win in the circle, going four scoreless innings to improve to 2-0 on the year while Belle Sardja picked up her first career save with three innings to close things out for the Bucs.
FSW runs their win streak to 14 games as they improve to 20-1 on the year while South Florida State falls to 5-9.
The Bucs now turn their attention to Saturday when they host #15 Indian River in a Top 25 matchup beginning at 1 PM at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.