Posted: Apr 18, 2024
MIAMI, Fla.- The #12 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers earned a key Citrus Conference victory on the road in Miami Thursday afternoon, using a four run 5th and a lights out effort from Nate Ward out of the bullpen for a 6-2 win over Miami Dade to begin the two teams three game series.
The Bucs came out swinging, getting back to back one out singles in the top of the 1st and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Michael McAloose to get on the board early to take a 1-0 lead.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd as Justin Thomas doubled and later scored on a bunt single from Jared Davis to make it 2-0 Bucs after 2 1/2.
Miami Dade leveled the score in the bottom of the inning as they got a leadoff home run and a two out RBI single to bring things back to even at the end of three at 2-2.
After a scoreless 4th for both teams, the Bucs got into the Shark bullpen in the 5th and made it count, getting RBI singles from Cooper Clapp and a Tripp Landers to score a pair while a Miami Dade error allowed two more to cross to make it 6-2 FSW at the midway point of the contest.
Bucs starter Landen Burch put up zeros in the 5th and 6th to keep the score there before handing the ball to Nate Ward out of the FSW bullpen to take over in the 7th.
Ward got some help from his defense in the 7th and 8th innings as the Bucs notched a double play in each frame to keep it a 6-2 game into the 9th.
The Bucs couldn't get any insurance in the 9th but they didn't need it as Ward worked his third straight scoreless frame in emphatic fashion, striking out the side after a leadoff single for the Sharks to close things out and give FSW a big 6-2 win in the series opener.
Burch went six strong innings to earn the win on the mound for the Bucs, scattering seven hits and allowing just the two 3rd inning runs to improve to 4-2 on the year. Ward slammed the door shut with three scoreless innings of two hit baseball while striking out five to notch his second save of the 2024 campaign. Davis and Victor Figueroa each had a pair of hits for the Bucs offense and both scored a run in the win.
The Bucs move to 32-16 overall with the win but more importantly up their Citrus Conference record to 21-7 where they remain a game up with five to go atop the standings. Miami Dade falls to 24-22 overall and 16-12 in conference action where they now find themselves in a dog fight for the last automatic ticket into the Region VIII Tournament which go to the top five teams in the league.
It is a quick turnaround for the two teams as the series turns to Fort Myers where they will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 1 PM at Buccaneers Park.