FORT MYERS, FLA.- The hot start to the 2019 season continued for the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Wednesday night at home in City of Palms Park in downtown Fort Myers as they erased an early 3-0 deficit against ASA Miami to come away with an 11-4 win to improve to 8-0 on the year.
Things didn't get off to such a great start for the Bucs who fell behind early 3-0 thanks to an error in the second inning that extended things for ASA who took advantage with a pair of two out hits to grab the early lead.
The Bucs tallied their first run of the night without a hit, getting a pair of walks, a fielder's choice, and a sacrifice fly to cut the Silver Storm lead to 3-1 after three.
Another FSW error in the fourth allowed ASA to get the run back, but the Bucs continued to claw in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases without a hit and getting a two run single from Mikey Burke and a bases loaded walk to knot the score at 4.
More free passes from the ASA pitching staff set the table nicely for the Bucs in the 6th and with one out, a single from Thomas Bennett plated two to give FSW their first lead of the night at 6-4 in the sixth.
After stretch time, the Bucs added to their lead. Three straight walks to open the frame followed by a hit batter again put FSW in prime position for a crooked number and Josh McCallister came through with an RBI single followed by a sac fly off the bat of Victor Florentino to push the lead to 8-4.
The Bucs put the game away in the eighth, again loading the bases before getting back to back walks to force home runs and a wild pitch to score another to make it 11-4.
FSW went on to take the game by that 11-4 count, needing just seven hits on the night for the double digit run total.
The Bucs took advantage of a program record 16 walks by ASA pitching as well as seven hit batters on the night. No FSW hitter had more than one hit in the game while Burke, Bennett, and McCallister each had a pair of RBI's.
Rafael Santos went five innings on the mound for the Bucs without allowing an earned run. Derek Rascher earned the win in his collegiate debut, going 1 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just a single hit. Nate Madej came in and got the Bucs out of a big jam in the 7th and recorded all three of his outs via the strikeout on the night while Robert Weigielnik retired all four men he faced to earn his first save of the year.
FSW improves to 8-0 on the year with the victory while ASA Miami falls to 2-6.
The Bucs are back in action on Friday and Saturday in a home and home with Indian River. The two teams will play Friday afternoon in Lake Worth before coming to Fort Myers for a 1 PM first pitch on Saturday at City of Palms Park.