Posted: Apr 08, 2022
TAMPA, Fla.- Through five innings Friday afternoon in Tampa, the #8 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers offense couldn't have been much worse as they were staring a no-hitter in the eyes in their series finale against the Hillsborough Hakws. Out of their first 15 outs, the Bucs had nine flyouts, five strikeouts, and one groundout, but that all changed in the 6th as FSW exploded for nine runs before putting up six more in the 7th to blow the Hawks out 16-0 for their second straight Suncoast Conference sweep.
The Bucs actually had traffic on the bases right away, putting two on with one out in the 1st before back to back popups from the middle of the lineup ended the threat.
The next three innings were bleaker for FSW as they managed just one baserunner and remained blanked on the scoreboard.
Thankfully for the Purple and Aqua, starting pitcher Magnus Ellerts matched the Hawks zeros, striking out seven through the first four to keep the game scoreless as the teams went to the 5th.
The Bucs drew a pair of walks to begin the 5th and pushed a run across on a sacrifice fly to get the scoring going, but still remained without a hit at the end of five, despite holding a 1-0 lead.
The Bucs finally picked up their first hit of the game in the 6th and once they did, the floodgates opened. Back to back one out singles from Paul Winland and Simon Baumer drove home runs to make it 3-0 and a bases loaded walk to Kendry Noriega upped the lead to 4-0. On the next pitch Paxton Tomaini cleared the bases with a double to the gap and a two run double from Jose Izarra ballooned the lead to 9-0. The Bucs scored their ninth run of the inning on a double from Yadiel Santana to take a 10-0 lead at the end of six.
With blood in the water, the Bucs wanted more in the 7th and got just that as Izarra drilled a three run shot out to left to extend the lead to 14-0 and two batters later Hernando Alvarez blasted a pinch hit two run homer to make it 16-0 FSW.
Ben Petschke finished things off from there out of the FSW bullpen, striking out a pair and closing out the Hawks to wrap up the 16-0 run rule win for the Buccaneers.
After failing to notch a hit through five, the Bucs ended up outhitting the Hawks 11-3 in the contest. Izarra led the way, going 2-5 with a double, a homer, and five RBIs while Tomaini was 1-3 with a double and three RBIs. Ellerts improved to 7-0 on the year on the mound, going five shutout frames, allowing just three hits while punching out seven.
FSW wins their sixth straight to improve to 31-12 overall and a blistering 18-3 in Suncoast Conference play where they have swept six of eight series this season. Hillsborough drops to 15-24 overall and 5-13 in league play after the sweep.
The Bucs have their conference bye week over the next seven days and will jump out of conference Saturday at home at City of Palms Park when they host Elev8 Academy in a 1 PM first pitch in Downtown Fort Myers.