Livingstone's Blasts Lift Bucs To Final Four
An early start and a change of venue didn’t deter the #1 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers Friday morning at the NJCAA World Series in Alabama as the Bucs broke out the whooping sticks in a 12-2 run rule win over #4 Temple to punch their ticket to the Final Four for the fifth time in the past six seasons.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- An early start and a change of venue didn't deter the #1 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers Friday morning at the NJCAA World Series in Alabama as the Bucs broke out the whooping sticks in a 12-2 run rule win over #4 Temple to punch their ticket to the Final Four for the fifth time in the past six seasons.
The Bucs got the scoring going right away as with two outs in the bottom of the 1st Noelani Livingstone launched a solo home run the other way to put FSW in front 1-0.
FSW starter Lizzy Kwakernaak struck out the side in the top of the 2nd and the Bucs broke it wide open in the bottom of the inning.
Back to back RBI singles from Emma-Rose Payette and Kwakernaak made it 3-0 FSW and one batter later Thaima Maximiliana drilled one off the right field wall to bring in another run and make it 4-0 Bucs. Livingstone stepped to the plate with two on and two out and delivered once again, sending a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right for a three run home run to stretch the Bucs lead to 7-0. Stephanie Basso walked on four pitches and Megan Veilleux picked up her second hit of the inning to set the table for Bente Zwanenburg who lined a double to center to bring both of them in and make it 9-0 FSW. They still weren't done as Makayla Jakubuwski capped a nine run Buccaneer 2nd with an RBI single back up the middle to extend the Bucs lead to 10-0 at the end of two innings of action.
Temple cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the 3rd, taking advantage of a leadoff triple to tally a run and make it 10-1, but that is all they would get as the Bucs continued to lead it big after 2 ½.
The Bucs got that run back on a fielder's choice and Livingstone came up once again with a runner in scoring position and delivered, smashing a line drive off the fence in right center, missing her third home run of the day by just feet, settling for an RBI double for her fifth RBI of the game to make it 12-1 FSW after three complete.
A misplayed fly ball in the 4th got the Leopards their second run of the day, but again, the Bucs limited the damage to one and remained up big, 12-2 after 3 ½.
Alexandra Solo came in out of the FSW bullpen and finished things off from there, working a 1-2-3 top of the 5th inning on just 12 pitches to close out a 12-2 Bucs run rule win in five.
The Bucs offense exploded for 14 hits and 12 runs in the win, led by Livingstone who finished 3-3 with two home runs, a double, and five RBIs. Jakubuwski, Maximiliana, and Kwakernaak all had two hits and an RBI while Veilleux was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored. Kwakernaak earned the win in the circle, going four innings and allowing just four hits and two runs to improve to 13-2 on the year.
It is the 32nd straight win for the Bucs who improve to 57-5 on the year while Temple falls to 55-7.
The Bucs reach the Final Four at the World Series for the fifth time in the past six seasons where they will take on upstart #3 Northeast Alabama in the semifinals Saturday at 2:00 PM (ET) with a trip to the National Championship Game on the line.
