Posted: Feb 17, 2023
FORT MYERS, Fla.- AJ Shaver and Derek Williams homered and Lucas Hartman threw 1 1/3 perfect innings to close things out as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers hung on for a 7-6 win over the Pasco-Hernando Bobcats in a back and forth affair Friday afternoon at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.
Things didn't get off to a great start for the Bucs as they began the top of the 1st with an error that eventually came around to score to give Pasco an early 1-0 lead.
FSW answered back right away though as AJ Shaver legged out a double with one out before Albert Serrano laced a double to the gap to drive him in and tie the score at 1. Three pitches later Nate Earley found a hole on the right side of the infield to drive two more runs in to put the Bucs in front 3-1.
Seven batters came to the plate in the 2nd and six struck out in a scoreless frame to keep it a 3-1 game in favor of the Bucs after two.
Pasco scratched out a run on two hits in the 3rd to cut the Bucs lead to 3-2 and again the Bucs looked like they were going to answer, loading the bases with one out, but a double play ball ended the threat and kept it a one run game, 3-2 in favor of FSW at the end of three.
Former Buc Kohl Robertson made his former team pay in the 4th, cranking a two run home run to left to put the Bobcats back in front 4-3.
It was the Bucs turn to use the longball in the 5th as Shaver led off the inning with a towering solo shot to left to tie things at 4 and two batters later Derek Williams unloaded on a pitch to put FSW back in front 6-4.
The Bucs extended their lead to 7-4 in the 6th as Shaver and Westbrook were once again in the middle of it as Westbrook smacked a single back up the middle to push the Bucs advantage to three.
The Bobcats wouldn't go away however as their second two run home run of the game in the 7th made it a one run game once again at stretch time at 7-6.
Pasco threatened to take the lead in the 8th, putting two on with two out, but Lucas Hartman came in out of the bullpen to extinguish the fire and keep the Bucs in front by one, 7-6.
The Bucs couldn't add any insurance in the bottom of the frame, but they didn't need it as Hartman worked a quick 1-2-3 frame in the 9th to close things out and give FSW a 7-6 victory.
The Bucs outhit the Bobcats 13-10 in the win, getting three hits each from Shaver, who missed the cycle by just a triple, and Serrano who doubled and drove in and scored a run in the win.
Jahir Perez earned the win on the mound for the Bucs, going 4 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 3 in his first collegiate victory. Hartman earned his first career save, retiring all four hitters he faced in the 8th and 9th.
The Bucs improve to 7-6 on the year with the win while Pasco falls to 8-4.
The same two teams will go head to head twice tomorrow in New Port Richey with first pitch of the doubleheader schedule at 1:00 PM.
