March 15, 2025
Bucs Bounce Back Against Patriots
Coming off of their first loss of the 2025 season, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got back on track on Saturday, hammering the #22 Central Florida Patriots 7-1 and 10-2 in a doubleheader to improve to 27-1 on the year.
OCALA, Fla.- Coming off of their first loss of the 2025 season, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got back on track on Saturday, hammering the #22 Central Florida Patriots 7-1 and 10-2 in a doubleheader to improve to 27-1 on the year.
Both offenses were quiet through the first two innings of action in game one with FSW breaking the deadlock in the 3rd when Noelani Livingstone picked up her second hit of the game to lead off the inning and came in to score on a groundout from Virginia Mambelli to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead.
Central Florida threatened to answer in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with two outs without the benefit of a hit before Leah Meyer dialed up a big strikeout to get out of the jam and keep the Bucs in front 1-0 after three.
The Bucs blew the game open in the 4th, scoring six times, highlighted by a two run triple from Livingstone and a two run home run from Virginia Mambelli to give FSW a 7-0 lead.
The Patriots took advantage of a pair of walks in the bottom of the 4th to get on the board for a first time, but that's all they would manage against Meyer as the Bucs remained well in control, leading 7-1 at the end of four complete.
Meyer dialed it in from there, retiring the next eight hitters she faced and finishing off the game in style with a strikeout as FSW took the opener 7-1.
The Bucs outhit the Patriots 10-1 in the game led by Livingstone who finished 3-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs while Mambelli knocked in three in a 1-4 contest. Meyer fired a complete game one hitter, striking out six to improve to 9-0 on the year.
It was the Patriots getting on the board first in game two as back to back two out walks started a two run rally to give Central Florida a 2-0 lead after one.
The Bucs didn't trail for long as Faith Wharton drove home FSW's first run of the game and a bases loaded walk to Livingstone tied the game at 2. Moments later Lizzy Kwakernaak gave herself some run support with a double to the gap to drive home a pair and put the Bucs in front 4-2.
Skylar Brennan doubled to start the FSW 3rd and she scored on a double steal with Megan Veilleux to push the lead to 5-2.
Wharton drilled a solo shot out to dead center two pitches into the 4th and Brennan and Nicole Edmiaston drove in two more to open it up to 8-2 FSW at the end of 3 1/2.
Kwakernaak fired a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 4th with a pair of strikeouts and then drove in a run with a sac fly in the 5th to make it 10-2 Buccaneers.
Central Florida put two on as they looked to fight off the run rule, but they couldn't make it happen as Kwakernaak picked up her third strikeout of the game to end the threat and the game as the Bucs took game two 10-2 in five.
Kwakernaak did it all for the Bucs in game two, throwing a complete game in the circle, allowing just one earned run while going 2-3 with three RBIs at the plate. Wharton finished 2-3 with a homer and two RBIs while Brennan had her fourth straight multi-hit game, going 2-4 with a double and an RBI.
The Bucs improve to 27-1 overall with the sweep while remaining in the lead of the Citrus Conference with a 13-1 mark while the Patriots drop to 16-12 overall and 6-6 in league action.
The Bucs will have some time to enjoy the wins as they don't take the field again until March 22nd when they travel to Winter Haven to take on Polk State in a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM.