May 21, 2025
Cardiac Kids Hang On To Advance to Elite Eight
Despite being separated by nearly 1,500 miles, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers and Butler Grizzlies have created quite a postseason history between them and chapter four was added to the tetralogy on Wednesday at the NJCAA World Series in Yuma, Arizona. It was a back and forth affair from the start with #1 FSW hanging on late, stranding the tying run at third base to end the game in a 7-6 victory over the #16 Grizzlies to advance to the winner's bracket semifinals at the tournament.
YUMA, Ariz.- Despite being separated by nearly 1,500 miles, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers and Butler Grizzlies have created quite a postseason history between them and chapter four was added to the tetralogy on Wednesday at the NJCAA World Series in Yuma, Arizona. It was a back and forth affair from the start with #1 FSW hanging on late, stranding the tying run at third base to end the game in a 7-6 victory over the #16 Grizzlies to advance to the winner's bracket semifinals at the tournament.
After falling behind right off the bat in Tuesday's opener against Crowder, the Bucs got off to a much better start on Wednesday, getting a pair of 1st inning runs on an RBI single from Nicole Edmiaston and a Butler error to take a 2-0 lead after one.
The Grizzlies struck back in the 3rd using three hits, a walk, and a hit batter to plate four runs and take their first lead of the game at 4-2.
Bucs starter Lizzy Kwakernaak settled down from there, working a 1-2-3 top of the 4th to allow FSW to get even in the bottom of the inning as Skylar Brennan banged a two out, two run double off the center field wall to level the score at 4-4 at the end of four.
It remained a 4-4 game to the 6th when the Grizzlies put a runner in scoring position with one out to chase Kwakernaak from the game. Zoe Yzaguirre came in out of the FSW bullpen and picked up a pair of big strikeouts to get out of the jam to keep the game tied at 4 after 5 1/2.
Karolina Dvorakova and Faith Wharton picked up singles to start the FSW 6th and moved up on a passed ball to put them in scoring position with nobody out in the inning. A fielder's choice erased Dvorakova at the plate, but Noelani Livingstone ripped a double back up the middle to score both runners and put the Bucs ahead 6-4. Later in the inning a Butler error allowed Livingstone to come home and it proved to be a huge insurance run as FSW took a 7-4 lead.
With the Grizzlies needing three runs to keep the game going and the Bucs needing three outs to close them out, things got interesting in the 7th. A hit batter and two walks loaded the bases with one out and a groundball on the infield and some indecision by the Bucs allowed a run to score and cut their lead to 7-5. A sac fly that would have ended the game scored another for the Grizzlies and brought the tying run to third base with the score 7-6. Butler went to a pinch hitter to try and push across the equalizer, but Yzaguirre didn't back down, getting a pop up in foul territory that Virginia Mambelli took care of to put out the fire and seal the 7-6 win for the Bucs.
Livingstone and Brennan led the Bucs offense at the top of the order as Livingstone accounted for four runs with two scored and two driven in while Brennan was 2-4 with a double and two big RBIs. Yzaguirre earned the win out of the bullpen to improve to 10-0 on the year, while Kwakernaak got a no decision after going 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs and striking out six.
The Bucs win their 15th straight to improve to 54-5 on the year while Butler falls to 45-8.
FSW advances to the tournament quarterfinals where they will match up with an old foe in #24 Chipola with a trip to the Final Four on the line. The Bucs and Indians will go head to head in a rematch of the FCSAA Championship Game at 4:30 PM (ET) Thursday. If you can't make it live, you can watch the game live on ESPN+ or take it in with other FSW fans at their Official Watch Party at Buckett's in Fort Myers.