Posted: Jan 30, 2024
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Hungry for a win after a frustrating opening weekend, the #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers took their anger out on the Inspiration Academy Lions in their 2024 home opener Tuesday at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers, hammering the visitors 11-1 in a seven inning run rule to even their record at 2-2 on the year.
The game got off to just about as good a start as the Bucs could have scripted as starting pitcher Adam Dowler struck out the side in the top of the 1st and FSW took a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the frame on a two run home run from Justin Thomas and a bases loaded groundout to go up three early.
It remained a 3-0 game to the 4th when the Bucs added to their lead on an Inspiration error and an RBI single from Jared Davis to stretch their advantage to 5-0.
A two out RBI double for the Lions in the 5th got them on the board but FSW answered back with a pair in the 6th on a two run single through the left side from Victor Figueroa to make it a 7-1 game.
John Long legged out an RBI infield single to make it 8-1 FSW in the 7th and Davis used his wheels to do the same later in the inning to cushion the lead to 9-1. After Thomas and Davis safely executed a double steal, Figueroa knocked in his third of the game with a groundout to make it 10-1 and Nate Earley put the game in the books with a double to center to kick in the run rule with FSW taking it 11-1 in seven.
Davis had a big game for the Bucs, going 3-5 with five stolen bases and three runs scored while Figueroa finished 2-5 with three RBIs. The Bucs were good on the mound as Dowler earned his first win with two shutout innings and three strikeouts while Abel Albarran and Josiah Velazquez both contributed two scoreless innings out of the FSW bullpen.
FSW improves to 2-2 on the year with the win while Inspiration Academy drops to 0-2.
Things will ramp up for the Bucs once again this weekend when they travel to Panama City to take part in the Perfect Game Juco Classic. Their opening game will be Friday at 12:30 PM when they take on #6 Northwest Florida State in a rematch of last Friday's season opener in Bradenton.
