FORT MYERS, FLA.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers improved to 10-0 on the season Saturday afternoon at City of Palms Park in downtown Fort Myers, knocking off visiting Indian River State 7-4 behind a picture perfect start from Jesse Ferreira and more outstanding work from the Bucs bullpen.
Jesse Ferreira got the ball for the Bucs Saturday and made the most of it, needing just 24 pitches to get through the first two innings unscathed, retiring all six batters he faced.
Ferreira's effort gave the Bucs to jump on top early, which they did, as Warner Rincones and Thomas Bennett ripped doubles to put FSW on the board and Ralph Morla singled up the middle to make it a 2-0 game in favor of the home team after two.
After Joey Mugavero tossed a five pitch 1-2-3 top half of the third for the Bucs, the FSW offense added another run after an Indian River error to make it 3-0.
The Pioneers got back into the ballgame in the top of the fourth as Cole Brutcher launched a two run home run to right field to cut the FSW lead to 3-2.
FSW got the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth when Connor Bagnieski lifted a sacrifice fly to left and Rincones picked up another big hit to drive home a run to push the Bucs lead back to three at 5-2.
The Bucs bullpen kept the score right there through the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings and Victor Florentino looked to have put the game away in the bottom of the eighth as he golfed a shot over the wall in left for a two run home run to push the FSW lead to 7-2.
Just when it looked like the game was in the books, things got interesting in the ninth. After the Bucs were forced to make an unexpected pitching change because of an injury, the Pioneers plated two runs on a two out double and then loaded the bases on another hit and a walk. With the score 7-4 and the tying run at first, FSW reliever Robert Weigielnik induced a ground ball to short that the Bucs took care of to end the threat and the game.
FSW had eight hits in the win, getting two apiece from Rincones and Morla while Florentino had the only multi-RBI game for the Purple and Aqua. Ferreira earned the win, his first of the year with two perfect innings to open up the game on the mound while Tommy Joseph, Mason Adams, and Ryan Gusto pitched clean innings from the fifth to the eighth to secure the game for the Bucs.
The Bucs improve upon their already best start in program history as they move to 10-0 on the year, while Indian River falls to 3-5-1.
FSW will enjoy a three day rest before a tough four game schedule next week as they play home and home with Miami Dade Wednesday and Friday before hosting red hot Santa Fe on Saturday at City of Palms Park.