February 24, 2024
Bucs Earn Hard Fought Split to Take Series
The #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers wrapped up a hard fought series with the Indian River Pioneers with a split on Saturday to win their second straight Citrus Conference series to begin the year, falling 3-2 in game one in a walk off before using a late game comeback for a 6-3 win in game two to take the series.
FORT PIERCE, Fla.- The #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers wrapped up a hard fought series with the Indian River Pioneers with a split on Saturday to win their second straight Citrus Conference series to begin the year, falling 3-2 in game one in a walk off before using a late game comeback for a 6-3 win in game two to take the series.
The Bucs had a chance to jump in front right away in game one of the doubleheader as they put a pair of runs in scoring position in the top half of the 1st, but a fly out ended the frame with two left on base.
Neither team had any other scoring chances until the 3rd when Indian River put their first two hitters of the frame on before a sacrifice bunt and a groundout pushed a run home to give the Pioneers the game's first run to take a 1-0 lead.
It remained a 1-0 game to the 5th when FSW finally broke through with a two out RBI single from Nik Pereira to level the score at 1.
Indian River pushed back ahead in the 6th when they got a pair of doubles to make it a 2-1 game.
Down to their final out in the 7th the Bucs worked some two out magic for the third time in a week as Justin Thomas singled to keep the inning alive and move a man into scoring position before none other than Victor Figueroa came up once again and singled back up the middle to tie the game at 2.
The game didn't stay tied long however as on the second pitch of the bottom of the 7th the Pioneers cracked a leadoff home run to walk the Bucs off and win it 3-2.
The Bucs outhit the Pioneers 9-6 in the contest but left six on in the one run loss. Thomas finished with three hits for the Bucs while John Long scored a pair of runs. Jordan Huskey went the distance for the second straight game on the mound for the Bucs, allowing six hits and three runs to fall to 2-1 on the year.
The Bucs had traffic right away in the top of the 1st as they loaded the bases with nobody out to start the game, but came away with just one run after back to back ground balls on the infield to settle for a 1-0 lead.
Indian River answered right away, getting a one out triple and a sac fly to tie the score at 1 after one.
The Bucs answered themselves in their next at bats as Figueroa drove in his second run of the afternoon with an RBI single to put FSW back ahead 2-1.
The back and forth continued in the 3rd when Indian River used a pair of singles and a hit batter to plate a run and even the school back up at 2.
Indian River was back at it in the 4th as they put their first two hitters of the inning on and threatened to take the lead before the Bucs called on Adam Dowler out of the bullpen who came on and got two big strikeouts to end the threat and keep it a tie game to the 5th.
The Bucs went quietly at the plate in the 5th and Indian River continued their pressure and broke through again in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of two out double, a wild pitch, and a passed ball to retake a 3-2 lead.
Things settled down from there as it remained a 3-2 game to the 8th , but after watching the first two games of the series, there was no doubt there would be some late game fireworks once again.
The Bucs started their half of the 8th with back to back walks to set the table and Danos smoked a double down the line to drive a run home and knot the score at 3. They loaded the bases with nobody out on a walk, but a strikeout and two popups on the infield quickly ended the threat and kept the game tied at 3.
FSW reliever Ryan Grzesiak worked a quick 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 8th, punching out a pair to keep the game tied at 3 as they went to the 9th .
It was more two out 9th inning magic for the Bucs on Saturday in game two as with runners on first and second Danos singled back up the box to drive home a run and break the tie to put the Bucs up 4-3. They weren't done yet though as Thursday's hero Salvador Alvarez donned the mask again, lining a single the other way to drive home two more to make it 6-3 Bucs as the teams went to the bottom of the 9th.
A walk and a dropped third strike in the Indian River 9th made things interesting as the Pioneers brought the tying run to the plate, but Bucs closer Brandon Gonsalves induced a pop up on the infield to finish things off to lock up a 6-3 win to clinch the series for FSW.
The Bucs outhit the Pioneers once again, racking up 11 knocks in the victory. Danos and Alvarez were the offensive stars for the Bucs in the win as they each collected three hits and a pair of RBIs. The Bucs bullpen was outstanding, going six innings and allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out eight to keep the Bucs in it and allow them to come from behind late for the win. Grzesiak earned his first win as a Buc, going two scoreless innings with three strikeouts while Gonsalves struck out a pair in a scoreless 9th for his second save of the season.
The Bucs win their second straight Citrus Conference series to open the season as they move to 13-6 overall and 5-1 in league play with the split while Indian River goes to 11-5 overall and 4-2 in conference action.
FSW steps out of conference action on Tuesday when they host St. Petersburg in a 2 PM first pitch at Buccaneers Park before lining up for another big conference series beginning on Thursday when they take on Hillsborough in Tampa in a battle for first place in the league standings.