March 8, 2024
Bucs Split Top Five Showdown With Indian River
In the early season NJCAA games of the year, the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers squared off with the #4 Indian River State Pioneers in a matchup of two teams with a combined record of 37-2 on the year Thursday afternoon at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers. Runs were tough to come by in game one as the teams went the distance and then some, needing nine innings to ultimately find separation as Indian River squeaked out a 1-0 win in extras. In game two it was a different story as FSW battered six different Indian River pitchers for 14 runs in a 14-2 five inning run rule win to split the twinbill.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- In the early season NJCAA games of the year, the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers squared off with the #4 Indian River State Pioneers in a matchup of two teams with a combined record of 37-2 on the year Thursday afternoon at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers. Runs were tough to come by in game one as the teams went the distance and then some, needing nine innings to ultimately find separation as Indian River squeaked out a 1-0 win in extras. In game two it was a different story as FSW battered six different Indian River pitchers for 14 runs in a 14-2 five inning run rule win to split the twinbill.
Indian River had multiple scoring opportunities early in game one as they loaded the bases in the 1st and again in the 2nd, but the Bucs escaped damage thanks to an unassisted double play by D'Yani McKinley in the 2nd to keep the Pioneers off the board and keep the game scoreless through two.
The Pioneers put more pressure on the Bucs in the 3rd, but again, FSW caught a break with some good defense to keep Indian River off the board and keep it a 0-0 game after three.
The Bucs didn't get their first baserunner until the 4th when Sydney McCray led off with a single, but she was erased on an Indian River double play to keep the game scoreless to the 5th.
Indian River put two on with two out in the 7th as they looked to crack the board for the first time, but FSW reliever Esmee Ames kept them off it with a pop out to end the threat and the Bucs still coudln't get anything going in the bottom of the inning to send it to extras still scoreless.
The Bucs had a chance to win it in the 8th as they got a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt to put the game winning run in scoring position with just one out, but back to back strikeouts ended the threat and send the game to the 9th still with nothing but goose eggs on the board.
Indian River finally broke through in the 9th as they used a leadoff walk and a sac bunt to put a runner in scoring position before a single through the left side brought the first run of the game home to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
The Bucs couldn't respond as they went down in order in the 9th for their first home loss in Buccaneers Park history 1-0.
The Bucs were outhit 10-1 in the game and struck out at the plate 12 times in the loss. FSW starter Emily Allegood went two scoreless innings to begin the game before Leah Meyer tossed three scoreless frames in the middle of the game. Ames was the tough luck loser, going four innings and allowing just three hits and one run to drop to 7-2 on th e year.
Game two looked like a repeat early on as neither team was able to get anything going in the first two innings as the game remained scoreles to the 3rd.
That changed in the 3rd as Indian River used their speed to manufacture a pair of runs, including a successful double steal to swipe a run to take their first lead of the game at 2-0.
The Bucs took advantage of two Indian River walks in the bottom of the 3rd to load the bases and a line drive double off the right center field wall from Nicole Edmiaston got FSW on the board for the first time all day and also put them ahead in the contest 3-2. They weren't done yet as two batters later Ella Moore hit a three run home run off the top of the fence in right to double their lead in one swing of the bat to 6-0. The Bucs reloaded the bases without taking the bat off their shoulder with two outs after three straight walks and a bases loaded walk to Allegood forced home a run to give the Bucs a 7-2 lead after three.
Back to back RBI singles from Kmari Williams and Sydney McCray in the 4th upped the Bucs lead to 9-2 and later in the inning an RBI double from Sietske Drijvers put a 10 spot on the board for FSW. McCray drew some cheers moments later when she stole home on a throw back to the pitcher and a Skylar Brennan triple right down the right field line followed by an Indian River throwing error made it a 14-2 game at the end of four.
Indian River sent three pinch hitters to the plate in the 5th and the Bucs set them down in order to seal up a 14-2 run rule win in five.
The Bucs outhit the Pioneers 11-4 in the win and took advantage of 12 free passes in the contest. Moore led the way, going a perfect 2-2 with a homer, three RBIs, and two runs scored. FSW starter Lea Chevrier went the distance in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just four hits and two runs to earn the win and improve to a perfect 9-0 on the year.
The Bucs move to 20-2 overall and 7-1 in Citrus Conference play with the split while Indian River advances to 19-2 and 7-1 in league play.
FSW is back in action on Saturday when they make the trip across Alligator Alley to take on Miami Dade in a doubleheader beginning at noon.