FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers battled back from down 3-1 midway through their game Wednesday against the Hillsborough Hawks for a 6-4 win to improve to 16-11 overall and 5-2 in Suncoast Conference play. 

 

The Hawks came out swinging, putting together three hits in the top half of the 1^st inning to push across a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead on the Bucs. 

 

It remained a 2-0 game to the 3^rd when Kendry Noriega walked on four pitches and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jose Izarra to cut the Hawks lead in half at 2-1. 

 

A key defensive play for the Bucs happened to end the top of the 4^th as Hillsborough got a two out double to the gap to score one, but Izarra gunned down the second runner trying to score on a perfect relay throw to close out the frame and keep it a 3-1 game. 

 

Izarra came up with another big play on a relay in the 5^th as Yadiel Santana made a good play in left to cut a would-be double off and fired to Izarra who fired to second to cut down the runner to keep it 3-1 in favor of the Hawks. 

 

The Bucs used their momentum from their defense and turned it into momentum for their offense as they broke out of their shells in the bottom of the 5^th with three straight doubles to start the inning, the later two driving home runs to even the score at 3-3. They weren't done yet though as Izarra drove home his second run of the game with a line drive to left, giving FSW their first lead of the game at 4-3.  

 

Paxton Tomaini beat a throw home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Matthew Corpas in the 7^th to extend the Bucs lead to 5-3, but the Hawks escaped further damage thanks to a tailor made double play ball to end the threat and the inning with FSW leading by just two. 

 

After closing out the 7^th on the mound for the Bucs, Riley Skeen took the bump again in the 8^th and was electric, striking out the side to keep the 5-3 lead intact for FSW.  

 

Satchell Norman was hit by a pitch and stole second to begin the FSW 8^th before coming around to score on an RBI single from Ronny Medina to make it 6-3 Bucs as the teams went to the 9th.  

 

Hillsborough managed a run in the 9^th with a one out triple, but Grant Besser punched out the final two hitters he saw to close things out, finishing off a 6-4 win for the Bucs in the series opener.  

 

The Bucs bullpen was outstanding once again, striking out 10 and allowing just one run in five innings of work to seal up the win for the Purple and Aqua.  Brian Holiday earned the win in relief, going 2 2/3 scoreless frames while striking out four to improve to 4-0 on the year.  Besser pitched the 9^th to earn his fourth save while striking out the side.  

 

FSW finished with nine hits in the win led by Fitz-Gerald who finished 3-3 with a double and an RBI while also walking to reach base in all four plate appearances against his former team. Tomaini had two hits and scored twice while Izarra drove home a pair for the Bucs. 

 

The Bucs improve to 16-11 overall and 5-2 in conference play with their fourth consecutive win while Hillsborough falls to 11-13 overall and 2-2 in league play on the season. 

 

The same two teams will lock up again on Friday at City of Palms Park in game two of the series with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM.