Bucs Rock Raiders in Citrus Sweep
The #4 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers found two different ways to win on Saturday, first using an outstanding pitching effort to defeat #12 Seminole State 3-1 in game one of their doubleheader before breaking out the bats in game two for a 15-3 run rule victory to push past the 30 win mark on the year.
SANFORD, Fla.- The #4 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers found two different ways to win on Saturday, first using an outstanding pitching effort to defeat #12 Seminole State 3-1 in game one of their doubleheader before breaking out the bats in game two for a 15-3 run rule victory to push past the 30 win mark on the year.
Bucs starter Lizzy Kwakernaak was locked in early on in game one, dialing up seven strikeouts through the first three innings of the contest, but the FSW offense couldn't get anything going either as the game flew to the 4th scoreless.
FSW couldn't cash in a leadoff single in the 4th and Seminole had their first real scoring chance of the game in the bottom half as a pair of walks set the table for them, but Zoe Yzaguirre came on out of the Bucs bullpen and set down the next three hitters to keep the game scoreless after four.
The scoreboard was finally put to use in the 6th as Noelani Livingstone picked up her second hit of the game with one out and Bente Zwanenburg delivered her home as she cracked a two run home run to left to put the Bucs in front 2-0.
A key error by the Raiders in the 7th allowed the third Bucs run of the game to score making it 3-0 and it was a good thing for FSW as Seminole got a two out RBI double in their final trip to the plate and brought the tying run to the plate, but Yzaguirre got a line out to close things out as the Bucs took game one 3-1.
The Bucs outhit the Raiders 8-3 in the ballgame with Livingstone and Zwanenburg doing the bulk of the damage, each recording two hits and Zwanenburg driving in two and scoring one run. Kwakernaak went three shutout innings, striking out seven before handing the ball over to Yzaguirre who earned the win, going four innings and allowing just one hit to improve to 12-2 on the year.
#4 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/#12 SEMINOLE STATE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
In game two it looked early on like the script was going to follow the same one as the first game as through two the Bucs and Raiders were scoreless.
That changed in the 3rd though as Zwanenburg continued her big day with a two run double to get the scoring going and later on Thaima Maximiliana was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home a run before a passed ball allowed a fourth FSW run to score to make it 4-0 Bucs after three.
The Bucs added on in the 4th with three more with Giorgiana Woods and Makayla Jakubuwski driving in runs to make it 7-0 FSW midway through.
Some sloppy play by the Bucs on the defensive side of the ball allowed Seminole to get back into the game in the 4th as an error and a pair of walks loaded the bases with nobody out and set the table for a three run frame for the Raiders to cut into the lead at 7-3.
The Bucs got a run in the 5th and blew things open in the 6th getting four straight run scoring knocks, highlighted by RBI doubles from Zwanenburg and Milla Durnell to open it up to 15-3 game.
The eight run frame took any wind the Raiders might have had in their sails right out as the Bucs closed them out in the bottom of the inning to seal up a 15-3 run rule win in six.
The Bucs outhit the Raiders 19-2 in the win with nine different players recording hits. Emma Rose Payette was a perfect 4-4 with three runs scored for FSW while Zwanenburg went 3-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Livingstone was 3-4 with four runs scored. Woods picked up the win in the circle, going three innings and allowing just one hit to improve to 4-0 on the year while lowering her ERA to 0.25 through 14 appearances.
#4 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/#12 SEMINOLE STATE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
The Bucs have now won six straight, including four over Top 15 ranked opponents to improve to 31-5 overall and 17-3 in Citrus Conference play where they take a two game lead atop the standings at the midway point of league play. Seminole falls to 22-10 overall and 11-9 in conference action.
It will be another ranked foe on the docket for the Bucs on Tuesday when they take the field again against #13 Miami Dade on the road in Miami with first pitch of their doubleheader scheduled for 2 PM.
