Ronaldo Fernandez (Photo by Linwood Ferguson/CaptivePhotons.com)
Posted: Mar 11, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- It didn't start well and didn't end particularly memorable for the #17 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Friday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers, but the seven innings in-between were just enough for the Bucs to pull out a 10-9 win over the Hillsborough Hawks to secure their second straight series win in Suncoast Conference play.
Things got off to an inconspicuous start for the Bucs as Hillsborough homered on the first pitch of the game and popped another long ball three batters later to take a quick 2-0 lead on FSW.
It was six up, six down for FSW through the first two innings as Hillsborough continued to lead it 2-0 into the 3rd.
The Hawks got their third home run in as many innings in the top of the 3rd to make it 3-0 and added another run later in the frame after a triple and a two out single to stretch their lead to 4-0.
FSW finally found some offense in the 3rd as Ronny Medina doubled with one out for their first hit of the game and later came around to score on an RBI single from Kendry Noriega to put the Bucs on the board. After Noriega swiped second, Satchell Norman drilled a double to the gap to bring him home to cut the Hillsborough lead in half to 4-2. With runners on the corners and two outs, Hunter Fitz-Gerald stole second and the Hawks decided to try to throw behind Norman at third, but unfortunately, the throw was literally behind him and went into left field allowing not only Norman to score, but also Fitz-Gerald to motor all the way around from first to score to tie the game at 4-4.
Another failed pick off attempt for Hillsborough allowed the Bucs to plate a run without a hit in the 4th, giving FSW their first lead of the game at 5-4.
After a second straight scoreless inning out of the FSW bullpen for Ronaldo Fernandez, the Bucs were back on the offensive in the 5th as Paxton Tomaini found a hole on the right side for an RBI single to make it 6-4 and Braden Forchic scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 7-4.
Both sides went down in order in the 6th and Fernandez worked around a two out single for his fourth scoreless inning of relief in the 7th to keep it a 7-4 game at stretch time.
The Bucs padded their lead in the 7th as Noriega sent one flying over the left field wall for a solo shot to begin the Bucs half of the frame and later in the inning Hernando Alvarez picked up his first hit and first RBI with FSW to extend the lead to 9-4.
FSW scored for the second time in the game without a hit in the 8th as three walks, a hit batter, and a sacrifice fly pushed home a run to add what seemed like an inconsequential insurance run to make it 10-4.
Little did they know that run would be crucial in the 9th however as Hillsborough came out swinging in their final at bats, scoring twice and putting runners on second and third before their first out of the inning. A pop up finally chalked up an out for the Bucs, but the next hitter cranked a three run shot out to left, getting the Hawks back to within one at 10-9 with one swing of the bat. Holden Wade came on out of the Bucs bullpen though and slammed the door, striking out the final two hitters he faced to earn his third save of the season and send FSW home a 10-9 winner.
The Hawks actually outhit the Bucs 12-8 in the contest, but FSW took advantage of 11 free passes from Hillsborough pitching and stole seven bases in the win. Noriega led the way at the top of the Bucs lineup, going 2-4 with a homer and three RBIs while Fitz-Gerald didn't record a hit in the contest, but walked twice and was hit once, scoring all three times. Fernandez was outstanding in relief for FSW, going four shutout innings and allowing just two hits to earn his first win of the 2022 campaign.
FSW wins their fifth straight to improve to 17-11 overall and 6-2 in Suncoast Conference play with the victory while Hillsborough falls to 11-14 overall and 2-3 in league play.
The Bucs and Hawks will wrap up the series Saturday night under the lights at City of Palms Park with first pitch pushed back to 6 PM due to expected rain in the area during the day.