Posted: Mar 19, 2022
BRADENTON, Fla.- The #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers made short work of the State College of Florida Manatees Saturday afternoon in Bradenton, jumping out to a 10-0 lead after three innings and going on to win 17-4 to extend their season long winning streak to nine games.
The Bucs came out ready to go in the series opener against the Manatees as they put two on with two out in the top of the 1st before Paxton Tomaini sent the second pitch he saw sailing over the wall in left for a three run home run to give FSW an early 3-0 lead.
The Bucs wanted more in the 2nd and they got just that as Axel Melendez and Satchell Norman ripped RBI singles to make it 5-0 and Jose Izarra followed suit later in the frame to push the lead to 7-0.
FSW still wasn't done as they put up a crooked number for the third straight inning in the top of the 3rd as Hunter Fitz-Gerald lifted a sacrifice fly to left to make it 8-0 and Jose Izarra picked up the first of his two doubles in the game to drive home two more to balloon the lead to 10-0.
SCF got on the board with single runs in the 4th and 5th to make it a 10-2 game, but the Bucs got a run back on a perfectly executed double steal in their half of the 6th to make it 11-2 after 5 1/2.
The Manatees got another lone tally in the 7th to make it 11-3, but FSW put the game away in their next at bats, using six SCF walks and an RBI double from Izarra to score six more times to up the lead to 17-3.
The Bucs went on to take it 17-4 in a run rule shortened eight inning contest.
The Bucs finished the game with 12 hits, took advantage of 15 SCF walks, and ran wild with 12 stolen bases in the win.
Izarra and Tomaini led the Bucs offense in the middle of the order, each picking up three hits while combining to drive in seven in the victory. Norman and Braden Forchic both collected two hits and score a pair of runs each for FSW. Magnus Ellerts was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, going five solid innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out five to improve to 5-0 on the year.
The Bucs have now won nine straight and seven straight in Suncoast Conference play to improve to 21-11 overall and 8-2 in league play on the season. SCF drops to 17-15 overall and 4-5 in Suncoast Conference action.
The Bucs and Manatees will tangle once again Monday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers with first pitch scheduled for 3 PM.