Posted: Feb 29, 2020
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Baseball team is going to hope that there were a few more February 29ths than there actually are, as the Bucs snapped out of a mini slump Saturday afternoon on Leap Day with a dominating 12-1 run rule victory over the #18 Miami Dade Sharks to send themselves into Suncoast Conference action on Monday on a high note.
FSW got off to a good start as Connor Bagnieski led off the 1st and launched a high fly ball into left field that was lost in the sun by the Sharks outfielder, allowing him to reach third and then score on a groundout from Warnner Rincones to give the Bucs a quick 1-0 lead.
Miami Dade evened things up in the 3rd on another sun aided hit followed by a bunt and a sacrifice fly to tie the score at 1.
The game didn't stay tied for long though as Bagnieski drew a leadoff walk and scored on a line drive double down the right field line from Tommy Joseph to make it 2-1. Later in the inning the Bucs added another run when Matthew Corpas flared one into shallow centerfield to give FSW a 3-1 lead after three innings of action.
The Bucs continued to add onto their lead in the 4th as Daniel Maldonado doubled in front of an RBI groundout from Bagnieski to make it 4-1 FSW.
After a quick 1-2-3 top of the 5th for FSW starter Grant Besser, the Bucs blew things wide open in the bottom of the inning.
FSW scored four runs without a single hit, using two Miami Dade errors and five walks to push their lead to 8-1. With the bases loaded on free passes, Rincones stroked a ball just inside the third base bag and it rolled all the way to the wall to clear the pillows and make it an 11-1 game. Rincones later scored on a wild pitch to give the Bucs their eighth run of the inning, all scored on a single hit by FSW in the frame.
The Sharks last hope came in the 6th as they loaded the bases with one out, but Besser went to uncle Charlie, spinning six straight breaking balls and striking out back to back Shark hitters to end the threat.
Making his FSW debut, Christhian Fieujean worked a scoreless 7th for the Bucs which kicked in the run rule at stretch time with the Bucs winning it 12-1.
Shockingly, the Bucs were outhit in the 12-1 victory, needing just five hits to do their damage while Miami Dade had seven. However, FSW walked 10 times and use three Dade errors for the big number in the runs column at the end of the day. Rincones finished 1-3 with 4 RBIs while Bagnieski and Joseph combined for 4 RBIs at the top of the order. Besser was outstanding on the mound, going 6 strong innings, allowing 6 hits and 1 run while striking out 7 to improve to 2-1 on the year.
FSW improves to 13-8 on the year with the win while the 18th ranked Sharks fall to 15-4.
The Bucs will now turn their attention to defense of their 2019 Suncoast Conference Championship as they kick off conference play Monday night at home at City of Palms Park where they will take on Polk State in a 6 PM first pitch.
