Bucs Settle For Split With Polk
The #3 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers eight game winning streak was snapped by the most unlikely of opponents on Saturday as Polk State picked up just their second win in Citrus Conference play with a 3-2 stunner over FSW in game one of their doubleheader Saturday before the Bucs returned to form in game two, hammering the Eagles 15-3 to split the twinbill.
WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- The #3 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers eight game winning streak was snapped by the most unlikely of opponents on Saturday as Polk State picked up just their second win in Citrus Conference play with a 3-2 stunner over FSW in game one of their doubleheader Saturday before the Bucs returned to form in game two, hammering the Eagles 15-3 to split the twinbill.
Things started bad and never got any better for the Bucs in game one of the doubleheader as FSW went down in order in the top of the 1st and Polk hit a home run to lead off their half of the inning to give the Eagles a quick 1-0 lead.
Polk added to their lead in the 3rd taking advantage of a pair of singles and a walk to make it 2-0 before an FSW error allowed the Eagles third run of the game to score to make it 3-0 Polk State at the end of three.
The Bucs offense continued to struggle in the 4th but finally got on the board in the 5th to cut the Polk lead to 3-1.
In out of the FSW bullpen Giorgiana Woods struck out a pair in a scoreless bottom of the 5th and then helped her own cause with a solo home run to dead center in the 6th to get the Bucs back to within one at 3-2.
Woods gave the Bucs a chance, putting up another zero in the 6th , but the FSW offense couldn't take advantage, going down in order in their final at bats with a pair of pop ups on the infield and a strikeout to end it as Polk State pulled off a stunning 3-2 win in game one of the doubleheader.
Woods was the lone bright spot for the Bucs, going 2-2 with a home run at the plate while throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts. Zoe Yzaguirre suffered the loss in the circle for FSW, allowing three hits and three runs in 3 2/3 innings to fall to 9-2 on the year.
#3 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/POLK STATE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
The Bucs got on the board a little bit quicker in game two as Noelani Livingstone singled with one out, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third, and scored on a Polk error to give FSW a 1-0 lead in the 1st.
FSW put two more up in the 2nd as Stephanie Basso ripped an RBI double to make it 2-0 and scored on a groundout from Milla Durnell to make it 3-0 Bucs at the end of two.
The Bucs blew the game open in the 3rd as their first eight hitters of the inning reached base, including a bases clearing double from Bente Zwanenburg, another RBI double from Basso, and Durnell's second RBI knock of the game to balloon the lead to 10-0 in favor of FSW.
Polk broke up the shutout in the 4th with a pair of runs but FSW answered with four more in the top of the 5th , highlighted by an RBI double from Kaylee Walker and Basso's third RBI double of the game to score two more to make it 15-3 which is where it ended after five as the Bucs kicked in the run rule to pick up the split.
After being shut down in game one, the Bucs banged out 16 hits in game two, led by Livingstone and Basso who each had three, while combining for four runs scored and six RBIs in the win. Reigning NJCAA National Pitcher of the Week Charlotte Graham was unhittable again in the circle for FSW, throwing three spotless frames to earn the win to improve to 5-0 on the year.
#3 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/POLK STATE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
The Bucs see their eight game win streak come to an end in the game one loss but bounce back to move to 24-4 overall and 10-2 in Citrus Conference play on the year while Polk pushes their record to 10-16 overall and 2-8 in league play.
The Bucs now turn their attention to a big matchup Tuesday with #6 Indian River in Fort Pierce before returning home for a top 10 battle with Santa Fe Saturday at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.
