May 24, 2024
Bucs 2024 Season Ends On Walk Off Heartbreaker
The #3 Florida SouthWesten State Buccaneers were one out away from moving on in the NJCAA World Series on Thursday but weren't able to close things out against the #17 Galveston Whitecaps as Galveston scored a 7th inning run to send the game to extras before walking the Bucs off in the 8th 2-1 to end FSW's hope of winning a fourth straight NJCAA National Championship.
OXFORD, Ala.- The #3 Florida SouthWesten State Buccaneers were one out away from moving on in the NJCAA World Series on Thursday but weren't able to close things out against the #17 Galveston Whitecaps as Galveston scored a 7th inning run to send the game to extras before walking the Bucs off in the 8th 2-1 to end FSW's hope of winning a fourth straight NJCAA National Championship.
It was a good old fashioned pitcher's dual early on in the do or die battle between the Bucs and Whitecaps.
FSW's Esmee Ames and Galveston's Jenna Johnston matched zeros early on with both teams stranding a runner in the 1st and then two in the 2nd before going down 1-2-3 in the 3rd and 4th to keep it a scoreless game through four innings of action.
The Bucs finally found some luck in the 5th as Sietske Drijvers ripped a one out double down the left field line before scoring on a pinch hit RBI single from Nicole Edmiaston to break the deadlock and put the Bucs in front 1-0.
Galveston looked to answer in the bottom of the inning, putting two on with two out, but Ames got a groundout that Kmari Williams took care of at short to keep the Bucs in front 1-0.
The Whitecaps had more traffic in the 6th as they put runners on the corners with two outs, but FSW reliever Lea Chevrier came in and got a big strikeout to end the threat and keep FSW up by one as the teams went to the 7th.
Drijvers tried to get the Bucs some insurance in the 7th with a one out double, but a pair of pop outs left her there at inning's end to keep it a 1-0 game as Galveston came up for their final licks in the bottom of the 7th.
The Bucs got a pop out to start the 7th before a walk put the tying run on base for the Whitecaps. Another fly out put FSW just one out away from victory but back to back singles and a Bucs error in the outfield allowed Galveston to score the equalized and send the game to extras tied at 1.
The Bucs put their leadoff hitter on for the first time in the game in the 8th but she was quickly erased on a line drive double play before another fly out ended their half of the inning and kept momentum on the side of the Whitecaps.
It was two quick outs for Galveston in the bottom of the 8th when a misplayed fly ball allowed them to extend the inning and they took advantage, getting a single back up the middle to bring home the run and walk off the Bucs 2-1 to end their season.
The Bucs managed just six hits in the loss with Drijvers leading the way, going 2-2 with a pair of doubles and a run scored in her final game in the Purple and Aqua. Ames took the tough luck loss in the circle, going 6 2/3 innings across two stints in the circle, allowing nine hits and one run to fall to 21-6 on the year.
FSW finishes their 2024 season in 7th place at the NJCAA World Series with a 57-10 overall record. Galveston moves on to take on the loser of the Northwest Florida/Indian River game Thursday night in the elimination bracket semifinals.