Posted: Mar 14, 2024
SANFORD, Fla.- One thing the #18 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers fans have learned this season is, never leave the ballpark early. That was the case once again on Thursday as down to their last out in the 9th inning against Seminole State, the Bucs got a game tying RBI single from Michael McAloose to send the game to extras where a two run single from Nate Earley won it in 10 as FSW took the series opener 8-5 over the Raiders to remain in first place in the Citrus Conference standings.
The Bucs struck first in the series openeras Justin Thomas singled to begin the ballgame and came around to score on a Seminole State error to put FSW in front 1-0.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd when Victor Figueroa remained red hot with a two run home run way up and out to right field to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Seminole cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the bottom of the 3rd , pushing across a pair on four hits and a walk to get back to within one at 3-2.
The Bucs got a run back in the top of the 4th as Jared Davis lined a single back up the middle to drive home a run and make it a 4-2 game.
A solo home run for the Raiders to lead off the 5th got Seminole back to within one at 4-3.
The Bucs had a prime opportunity to create some distance in the 7th as they loaded the bases with two outs, but a tapper back to the pitcher ended the frame and kept it a 4-3 game at stretch time.
The runners left on would cost the Bucs as Seminole cashed in their two baserunners in the bottom of the 7th, getting a sacrifice fly to tie the game and then a two out double to put the Raiders on top for the first time in the contest 5-4.
Down to their final three outs in the 9th the Bucs had the right guy coming to the plate as the state's leading hitter Figueroa singled back up the middle to put the tying run on base to start the inning. A sac bunt moved Figueroa up 90 feet and he advanced to third on a passed ball. A pop out on the infield put the Bucs on the brink, but on the first pitch he saw, Michael McAloose legged out an infield single to bring Figueroa home and tie the game at 5.
Bucs reliever Brandon Gonsalves worked a scoreless bottom of the 9th to keep the game tied and send it to extras.
After two quick outs to begin the top of the 10th, Justin Thomas extended the inning for the Bucs with a double before Figueroa was intentionally walked to put two on with two out. Nik Pereira walked to load the bases and on the first pitch he saw, Nate Earley smoked a single back up the middle to drive home two and a Seminole error allowed a third FSW run to score to make it 8-5 in the blink of an eye.
That's all Gonsalves needed to bring home the win for the Bucs as he worked around a one out walk in the bottom of the 10th to close it out and give FSW an 8-5 come from behind victory to begin the three game series.
The Bucs banged out 14 hits in the win, led by Figueroa who finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-5 with a double and a home run while scoring four times and driving home two more. Salvador Alvarez finished 3-6 with a run scored for the Bucs while Thomas, Earley, and Davis all had two hits apiece. Gonsalves earned the win out of the FSW bullpen, going four shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out four to improve to 4-1 on the year.
The Bucs improve to 4-0 in extra inning games this season, moving to 19-9 overall and 10-3 in Citrus Conference action to remain in first place in the league standings. Seminole falls to 16-12 overall and 5-8 in league play.
FSW and Seminole will get back after it on Saturday in Fort Myers when they play a doubleheader beginning at noon at Buccaneers Park to wrap up the series.