February 20, 2020
Bucs Bomb Gyrenes in Naples
If you are a pitcher and value your ERA, you probably want to steer clear of the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers right now. The Buccaneers put on another show Thursday night in Naples, putting up 31 runs in a 18-1, 13-0 doubleheader sweep of Ave Maria. FSW has now outscored their last seven opponents by a count of 92-5.
NAPLES, Fla.- If you are a pitcher and value your ERA, you probably want to steer clear of the #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers right now. The Buccaneers put on another show Thursday night in Naples, putting up 31 runs in a 18-1, 13-0 doubleheader sweep of Ave Maria. FSW has now outscored their last seven opponents by a count of 92-5.
The Bucs got going right away in the 1st as their first four hitters of the inning picked up hits, including RBI knocks from Natavia Ellis and Feline Poot to give FSW a quick 2-0 lead. Later in the inning a well executed double steal netted FSW another run and they took a 4-0 lead on a Janessa Plummer bunt single.
FSW added three more on a three run home run from Ellis in the 2nd to push their lead to 7-0 and blew things wide open in the 3rd as Ellis doubled home two more and Shanika Klett left the yard for a two run shot to make it a 12-0 game after three.
Ave Maria got their only run of the day in the top of the 4th to make it 12-1, but FSW got that back on one swing as Owen Bowers crushed her 18th career home run to lead off the Bucs half of the 4th to push their advantage to 13-1. The Bucs continued to bring the noise later in the inning as Poot drove home another run with a single before Taylor Jensen made her first collegiate home run a memorable one with a grand slam to stretch the lead to 18-1 for FSW.
The Bucs finished off the Gyrenes in the 5th to force the run rule in an 18-1 final.
FSW had 20 hits in the win with a number of players having big games. Ellis finished a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, a home run, and 6 RBIs while Rebeca Laudino also had 3 hits in 3 chances at the top of the order while scoring 3 runs. Haley Ellefson earned the easiest win of her Buccaneer career, riding the 18 runs of support 3 innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 7 to improve to 6-1 on the year.
Game two was almost over before it started. The Bucs sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the 1st inning, getting RBI hits from Laudino and Lexi Moore and a three run home run from Lindsey Corbin to highlight a nine run inning to take a 9-0 lead after one.
The laser show continued in the 2nd as Charlotte Drijvers whacked a solo home run and Jensen lined an RBI single to push the lead to 11-0.
The Bucs added two more in the 3rd to make it 13-0 and that was the way it would finish after five as the run rule kicked in once again.
The Bucs outhit the Gyrenes 13-3 in the win, getting 2 hit games from five different players including Corbin who drove in 3 and Moore who drove home a pair. While the offense stole the show, the Bucs pitching was solid as well as Emily Perrin started and went 4 scoreless innings to earn the win to improve to 2-0 on the year while Alyssa O'Donnell closed out the game with a scoreless frame of her own.
FSW improves to 12-1 on the year with the sweep and will be back in action this weekend in Sanford when they take on Region VIII foes Santa Fe, FSCJ, Tallahassee, and Chipola.