January 27, 2021
Besser, Bucs Take Down #15 Miami Dade in Midweek Action
Grant Besser threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout baseball and Matthew Corpas helped power the offense as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got past the #15 Miami Dade Sharks by a score of 5-1 Wednesday afternoon in Miami.
KENDALL, Fla.- Grant Besser threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout baseball and Matthew Corpas helped power the offense as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got past the #15 Miami Dade Sharks by a score of 5-1 Wednesday afternoon in Miami.
There were lots of baserunners in the first two innings of the contest, but neither side was able to come up with a big two out hit as the contest remained scoreless into the 3rd inning of action.
The Bucs got on the board first when Matthew Corpas doubled with two outs and came around to score on an RBI single from Abimelec Ortiz to put FSW in front 1-0.
FSW starter Grant Besser held the lead right there through four innings of work, allowing the Bucs to add onto their advantage in the top half of the 5th when Corpas ripped his second double of the afternoon, this time an RBI knock to put the Purple and Aqua ahead 3-0.
Besser worked into the 5th and picked up a pair of outs before two baserunners reached to bring the tying run to the plate and that is when the Bucs went to the bullpen to call on Riley Skeen, who finished off the frame and kept the Sharks off the scoreboard and the Bucs in front 3-0.
Skeen put up another zero in the 6th and neither side pushed anything across in the 7th to quickly send the game to the 8th with FSW continuing to lead 3-0.
Miami Dade finally got on the board in the bottom of the 8th courtesy of a solo home run, but FSW immediately answered, getting a sacrifice fly from Carter Cunningham and a two out RBI single from Yadiel Santana to give them two insurance runs and cushion the lead to 5-1 heading to the bottom of the 9th.
The Sharks made it interesting in the 9th as they put a pair on and brought the tying run to the on deck circle, but Bucs reliever Robert Wegielnik shut the door on the Dade rally, getting a fly out to put the final stamp on a 5-1 victory for FSW.
Each side finished with nine hits. FSW got a 3-4 day from Corpas who finished with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored in the win. Ortiz finished with a pair of knocks and an RBI for FSW as well. The story was the Bucs pitching though as Besser started and went 4 2/3 shutout frames, allowing just five hits while striking out three. Skeen worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings through the middle to earn the victory while Wegielnik had a lone blemish in three innings of work to earn the save for FSW.
The win is the second of the season over a ranked opponent for FSW as they improve to 4-1 overall. The loss drops Miami Dade to 2-2.
FSW is back in action on Friday and Saturday when they return home to City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers to host the ASA Miami Silver Storm. Game one Friday is set for a 2 PM start while Saturday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 11 AM.