Bucs Edge San Jac in World Series Opener
The #1 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers won a pitcher’s dual in their opening game of the 2026 NJCAA World Series in Oxford, Alabama on Tuesday, sneaking by the San Jacinto Ravens 2-1 to advance to the third round on Wednesday where they will see a familiar face in fellow Citrus Conference mates, #11 Eastern Florida, with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line.
OXFORD, Ala.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers won a pitcher's dual in their opening game of the 2026 NJCAA World Series in Oxford, Alabama on Tuesday, sneaking by the San Jacinto Ravens 2-1 to advance to the third round on Wednesday where they will see a familiar face in fellow Citrus Conference mates, #11 Eastern Florida, with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line.
The Bucs had a chance to get on the board right away in the 1st as a pair of infield singles set the table with two outs, but a groundout to second ended the threat and kept it a scoreless game through one.
San Jacinto put two on with two out as well in the 2nd, but FSW starter Lizzy Kwakernaak got a fly out to left to douse the fire and kept the game scoreless after two.
The Ravens cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the 3rd thanks to a leadoff infield single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single back up the middle to give San Jac a 1-0 lead. The Bucs skirted further damage as Abbie Shellabarger snagged a line drive and turned it into a double play to get out of the inning and keep it a one run game at the end of two and a half innings of action.
FSW answered in similar fashion in the bottom of the frame as Thaima Maximiliana singled to start the FSW half of the inning and Noelani Livingstone walked with one out to put two on for the Bucs. Later in the frame Megan Veilleux legged out an infield single and both Maximiliana and Livingstone scored to put the Bucs in front 2-1 at the end of three.
The Bucs found themselves in trouble again in the 4th as San Jac put two on with nobody out, but reliever Charlotte Graham picked up a pair of strikeouts and finished the inning with a weak foul out to third to end the threat and keep FSW up 2-1 midway through the contest.
FSW had more traffic on the bases in the 4th, again putting two on with two out, but also again, they were unable to come through with runners in scoring position as they left both ducks on the pond and it remained a 2-1 game at the end of four complete.
For the second straight inning it was the Bucs flashing the leather to get out of a jam, this time a ground ball to third that Stephanie Basso fielded and stepped on the bag before throwing to first for a double play to keep the Bucs in front by one.
The Bucs had a chance to add some insurance in the bottom of the 6th as Bente Zwanenburg drew a four pitch walk to begin the inning, but she was stranded at third at inning's end and it remained a 2-1 FSW lead as the teams headed to the 7th and final inning of play.
Graham made sure no insurance was needed, mowing through the Raven lineup in the 7th to close things out and give the Bucs a 2-1 win in their World Series opener.
Six different Bucs recorded a hit in the win with Veilleux providing the most important one, her two run single in the 3rd that was enough for the win for FSW. Graham earned the win in relief for the Bucs, going four shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three to improve to 13-1 on the year.
The Bucs win their 30th straight, improving to 55-5 on the year while San Jac falls to 42-25.
FSW is back in action on Wednesday at 2:30 PM (ET) when they take on a familiar foe in the #11 Eastern Florida State Titans in the third round of the tournament with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line.
Bucs fans that can't make it to Oxford to cheer on the team, can still enjoy the game with other FSW faithful at their Official Watch Party at Miller's Ale House on Colonial in Fort Myers.
