February 20, 2026
Bucs Split Conference Openers Against Daytona
The #2 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers were forced to settle for a split in their 2026 Citrus Conference openers on Friday, taking game one 5-3 before dropping game two 6-2 to see their nine game winning streak come to an end.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.- The #2 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers were forced to settle for a split in their 2026 Citrus Conference openers on Friday, taking game one 5-3 before dropping game two 6-2 to see their nine game winning streak come to an end.
The Bucs wasted little time in jumping on the Falcons in game one as Noelani Livingstone walked to begin the ballgame, stole second, and scored on a single from Giorgiana Woods to take a quick 1-0 lead. Two batters later Thaima Maximiliana smacked a double off the center field wall to put FSW up 2-0 after a half inning of play.
The Bucs lead didn't last long though as Daytona answered right back in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a pair of FSW errors to score twice and even the score at 2 apiece at the end of an eventful 1st inning of action.
The back and forth continued in the 2nd as FSW mounted a two out rally capped off by an RBI triple from Livingstone to put the Bucs back in front 3-2.
The Bucs added to their lead in the 3rd on an RBI groundout from Megan Veilleux to make it 4-2 before Daytona got the run back in the 4th on a two out single to make it a one run game once again at 4-3.
Mikan Nishiya doubled to extend the FSW 6th and Livingstone cashed her in with a single back up the middle to give the Bucs some insurance, up 5-3 heading to the 7th.
Daytona brought the tying run to the plate in the 7th but a key double play erased the runner and the Falcon threat before the Bucs took care of a ground ball on the infield to seal up a 5-3 win in the opener.
The Bucs outhit the Falcons 7-6 in the victory with Livingstone and Woods leading the offense, each collecting two hits while Livingstone knocked in two runs and Woods scored a pair. Zoe Yzaguirre went the distance in the circle, scattering six hits and yielding three runs, two earned, while striking out a pair to improve to 6-1 on the year.
For the second straight game, the Bucs jumped on the Falcons right away in the 1st , using a leadoff walk to Livingstone and a one out single from Woods to put the Bucs ahead 1-0.
Also for the second straight game, the Bucs couldn't hold the lead as three walks and a pair of FSW errors fueled a four run 1st for the Falcons to put Daytona in front 4-1.
The Bucs had a chance to answer right back, loading the bases in the top of the 2nd, but a ground ball was handled by the Falcons and stranded the three runners to keep Daytona on top 4-1.
Both teams had chances to strike in the middle innings, but neither could come through with the big hit as the game scooted to the 6th with the score still 4-1 Daytona.
FSW loaded the bases once again in the 6th with one out, but for the second straight time, couldn't cash the runners in as a strikeout and ground out ended the threat and kept it a 4-1 game.
Daytona used small ball to add some insurance in the bottom of the 6th, plating a pair of runs to boost their lead to 6-1.
Lizzy Kwakernaak recorded her third hit of the game with an RBI single to right in the FSW 7th to bring the tying run to the on deck circle, but a pop up on the infield sealed their fate and gave Daytona a 6-2 upset victory.
Kwakernaak threw five innings in the circle and also recorded three hits at the plate to lead the way for the Bucs while Woods and Bente Zwanenburg recorded two hits apiece as well.
FSW sees their nine game winning streak come to an end as they move to 15-3 overall on the year with the split while Daytona moves to 16-6.
The Bucs are back in action on Tuesday at home at Buccaneers Park when they host Miami Dade in a Citrus Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 PM.