March 22, 2023
Bucs Run Win Streak to 20 With Sweep of Sharks
To say the #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers are in midseason form would be an understatement. After a sweep over Miami Dade at Buccaneers Park on Wednesday afternoon, FSW has now won 20 straight games to move to 31-3 on the year.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- To say the #2 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers are in midseason form would be an understatement. After a sweep over Miami Dade at Buccaneers Park on Wednesday afternoon, FSW has now won 20 straight games to move to 31-3 on the year.
There wasn't much in the form of offense early on in game one between the Bucs and the Sharks as the game was scoreless through 2 ½ innings of action.
The Bucs broke the scoreless tie in the 3rd as Shenita Tucker walked and motored to third on a single from Carys Platt before coming home to score on a throwing error by the Sharks on the same play to put FSW in front 1-0.
The Bucs used some defense so get out of a jam in the 4th as D'Yani McKinley flashed some leather for a double play to end the inning and keep it a 1-0 game.
Samantha Smith added to the Bucs lead with a sacrifice fly in the 4th and FSW got their third run on a a Miami Dade error to make it 3-0 Bucs at the end of four.
Bucs starter Belle Sardja worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the 5th for FSW and the Bucs added to their lead in the bottom half of the frame as Caroline Figueroa ripped an RBI single off the glove of the Sharks shortstop to make it a 4-0 game.
FSW scored for the fourth consecutive inning in the 6th as Sydney McCray smacked a two out RBI single up the middle to add an insurance run for the Bucs and make it a 5-0 game as the teams went to the 7th.
Sardja was one out away from her second career no-hitter in the 7th when the Sharks got a single to right and then another single up the middle to break up not only the no-no, but also the shutout, but that is all they would get as she shut the door from there to seal up a 5-1 win for the Bucs in game one.
The Bucs outhit the Sharks 7-2 in the win as Platt led the way going 3-4 with a stolen base and a run scored. Sardja did the rest, going the distance in the circle, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out three to improve to 12-1 on the year.
Game two followed a similar script early as FSW's Lea Chevrier and Miami Dade's Ashlyn Blanchard matched zeroes through the first three innings as the game went scoreless to the 4th.
Chevrier worked a quick 1-2-3 in the top of the 4th for the Bucs and her offense finally rewarded her in the bottom half of the frame as Sietske Drijvers singled to start the inning and came around to score on a single the other way from Figueroa to put the Bucs on the board and up 1-0.
The Bucs didn't score in the 5th, but a monumental moment happened midway through the inning as Shenita Tucker showed off her blazing speed with a bunt single before stealing second base, recording her 100th career stolen base in an FSW uniform.
Miami Dade had their best scoring chance in the 6th as they put two on with two out in the inning, but Chevrier enduced a pop out to end the threat and the frame, as the Bucs clinged to a 1-0 lead.
The Bucs got some insurance in the bottom of the 6th as Maddy Golka singled to the gap in right center to drive home a run and make it 2-0 before Tucker ripped a two run double to the wall in left to drive her home and make it 3-0 FSW after six.
The Sharks threatened once more in the 7th putting runners on via a one out walk and a two out single to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kylee Graham came in out of the FSW bullpen and slammed the door with a strikeout to preserve the shutout and give the Bucs a 3-0 win.
FSW finished with 10 hits with two a piece from Tucker, Platt, and Feline Poot. Chevrier went 6 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five to earn the win and improve to 9-2 on the year. Graham notched her second save of the season, striking out the only hitter she faced to close out the win for the Bucs.
With the sweep, the Bucs have now won 20 straight games to move to 31-3 overall and 3-0 in Southern Conference play on the season. Miami Dade's rough patch continues as the Sharks drop to 12-14 overall and 0-2 in conference action.
The Bucs will be back in action on Friday when they hook up with the Sharks once again in Tampa in the first game of a split doubleheader with Miami Dade and Hillsborough.