Bucs Take Shootout Over Manatees in Series Opener
The #5 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers won a wild back and forth series opener against the #23 State College of Florida Manatees Thursday night under the lights in Bradenton, scoring six runs in the top of the 1st just to see SCF answer with nine of their own in the bottom of the inning, eventually battling for over four hours before FSW outlasted the Manatees 17-13.
BRADENTON, Fla.- The #5 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers won a wild back and forth series opener against the #23 State College of Florida Manatees Thursday night under the lights in Bradenton, scoring six runs in the top of the 1st just to see SCF answer with nine of their own in the bottom of the inning, eventually battling for over four hours before FSW outlasted the Manatees 17-13.
It was a chaotic start in the first of 25 innings between the Bucs and Manatees this weekend in Southwest Florida. The first five FSW hitters of the game reached base including RBI singles from Jonah St. Antoine and Cris Walley to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead before they recorded their first out of the contest. Two batters later with the bases loaded, Robbie Demetree sent the first pitch he saw deep and out to left for a grand slam to make it 6-0 FSW before the Manatees got their first crack at the plate.
As nearly perfect as the Bucs start was, the Manatees was even better. SCF nearly batted around without an out to start their half of the inning with their first eight hitters reaching base, six of them scoring to quickly tie the game at 6-6. A two run double moments later and a triple behind that pushed home three more tallies and just like that the Manatees led 9-6 after a wild 1st inning in Bradenton.
The Bucs leveled the score in the 3rd as Greg Caban launched his second homer of the year out the other way, a three run shot to make it 9-9.
The Bucs defense let them down in the bottom of the 4th with errors on back to back plays which cost them a pair of runs to put SCF back in front 11-9.
The back and forth continued in the 6th as Aiden Talarico lined an RBI triple to center to get the Bucs back to within one and later in the inning he scored on a passed ball to tie the score back up at 11.
Bucs reliever Judd Hildreth threw his second straight scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts to keep the game right there after six and the FSW offense took advantage as Bishop Quarles tripled home the go ahead run and St. Antoine lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him in and make it a 13-11 game at stretch time.
FSW continued to tack on in the 8th as Demetree drove in his fifth run of the game with a groundout to pad the Bucs lead to 14-11.
After the Bucs quieted the Manatee bats the previous three innings, SCF broke through once again in the 8th with a pair of runs, but FSW closer Nicholas Lorenz came in and prevented further damage, stranding the tying run in scoring position to keep it a one run game in favor of FSW at 14-13 as the teams went to the 9th.
The Manatees handed the Bucs another scoring chance on a silver platter in the 9th, hitting the first two batters of the inning and walking the next to load the bases with nobody out. Talarico took advantage, ripping a single to left to bring one run home before the Bucs fourth free pass of the inning forced home another to make it 16-13. The Bucs added one more insurance run, but they wouldn't need it as Lorenz slammed the door in the bottom of the 9th, finishing the game in style with a strikeout to seal a wild 17-13 win for FSW.
Eight of nine FSW starters had a hit in the win and nine different players either scored or drove in a run for the Bucs. Demetree finished 2-6 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs to lead the offense while Quarles and Talarico each collected three hits and combined to account for nine runs.
While the final line score may not suggest it, the Bucs had a few outstanding efforts on the mound in the victory. Andy Hernandez threw three big innings without allowing an earned run to settle things down early while Hildreth followed him with 2 1/3 scoreless frames, earning the win to improve to 3-0 on the year. Lorenz was automatic as usual late, nailing down his FCSAA leading sixth save of the campaign with 1 2/3 flawless innings to close things out.
The win was the seventh straight for the Bucs who improve to 24-6 overall and continue to pace the pack at 13-3 in Citrus Conference play. State College of Florida falls to 20-11and falls three games behind FSW at 10-6 in league action.
The two teams will continue what is sure to be an entertaining series on Saturday when they shift things to Fort Myers and Buccaneers Park for a 1 PM doubleheader from the City of Palms.
#5 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/#23 STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA BOX SCORE