March 10, 2024
Ames' No-Hitter Highlights Bucs Saturday Sweep of Sharks
Esmee Ames fired the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers second no-hitter of the season in game one and Skylar Brennan went a perfect 3-3 in game two to lead the Bucs to a Citrus Conference doubleheader sweep against the Miami Dade Sharks Saturday afternoon across Alligator Alley.
MIAMI, Fla.- Esmee Ames fired the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers second no-hitter of the season in game one and Skylar Brennan went a perfect 3-3 in game two to lead the Bucs to a Citrus Conference doubleheader sweep against the Miami Dade Sharks Saturday afternoon across Alligator Alley.
The Bucs got the scoring going in game one as they loaded the bases with one out after three straight singles and a pair of bases loaded walks forced runs home to gift the Bucs an early 2-0 lead.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd as Nicole Edmiaston lined a two out RBI single back up the box to make it a 3-0 game.
After the Sharks first hitter of their half of the 1st reached, Bucs starter Esmee Ames didn't allow another baserunner through three, working a 1-2-3 bottom of the 3rd to keep FSW in front 3-0.
The Bucs blew the game open in the 5th as Ella Moore drove home a pair with a double to center and later on Mia Terito and Sydney McCray picked up RBI singles to blow it open to an 8-0 game in favor of FSW.
With a bit of Buccaneer history on the line as she took the rubber in the 5th, Ames got a ground out on the infield and a strikeout to put her within one out of a no-hitter and then for a moment, it looked like her no-no bid would be ended with just one out left to get as the Sharks got a ball into right field, but Katey McGee fired it to first from right field to get the hitter to end the inning and preserve the no-hitter for Ames as the Bucs closed things out in five 8-0.
Ames improves to 8-2 on the year with the win, going the distance without allowing a hit while striking out five in the victory. Edmiaston led the offense, going a perfect 3-3 while Moore, Terito, and McCray each drove in a pair in the win.
The Bucs jumped on the Sharks right away in game two as Skylar Brennan picked up an early sac fly with the bases loaded in the 1st to give FSW a quick 1-0 lead.
Both teams had chances in the middle innings, but neither could come through with the big hit with runners in scoring position as it remained 1-0 as the game swiftly moved to the 5th.
Emily Allegood helped herself at the plate with an RBI single to left to double the Bucs lead in the 5th and later in the inning she scored on a passed ball to make it a 3-0 game.
Miami Dade finally broke through against FSW pitching in the bottom of the 5th as they used a leadoff walk to get something going, eventually cashing it in on a sac fly to left to get on the board and make it a 3-1 game.
The Bucs got the run right back as they took advantage of a one out Miami Dade error to plate a run and push their lead back to 4-1.
The Bucs added some more insurance in the 7th as Edmiaston drove home a run with a single and Terito lifted a sac fly to center to plate FSW's second run of the inning to make it a 6-1 game.
Miami Dade scratched out a run in their final at bats in the 7th, but it was too little, too late as the Bucs finished off the sweep with a 6-2 game two victory.
The Bucs banged out 12 hits in the win led by Brennan who went a perfect 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Sietske Drijvers and Emily Allegood had two hits each for FSW in the victory. Allegood also tossed three scoreless innings in the circle but didn't factor into the decision while Lea Chevrier came in out of the FSW bullpen for three, two hit innings to pick up the win to improve to 10-0 on the year.
The Bucs improve to 22-2 overall and 9-1 in Citrus Conference play with the sweep while Miami Dade falls to 7-12 overall and 5-6 in league action.
FSW is back in action on Tuesday when they host State College of Florida in doubleheader action beginning at 2 PM at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.