OCALA, FLA.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers continued their red hot start to the 2019 season on Friday, coming from behind to beat #6 Central Florida in game one of their doubleheader before pulling out their big bats for a 9-3 game two win to sweep the Patriots and stay unbeaten on the year at 19-0.
After a pair of scoreless innings to begin game one, the Bucs got on the board first in the third as Kayla Domon drew a two out walk and stole second ahead of an RBI single from Rebeca Laudino to give FSW a 1-0 lead.
Central Florida answered right back, getting a two out bloop single just over the outstretched arms of Laudino in short center to score a run and knot the game at 1.
The Bucs normally prolific offense struggled as they were unable to get anything going in the fourth or fifth innings and the Patriots took advantage, grabbing their first lead of the afternoon on a botched rundown by FSW in the fifth to go on top 2-1.
Things were not looking good for the Bucs as they were down to their final out in the seventh with nobody on base when Domon drew her second walk of the contest to put the tying run on base. Laudino legged out an infield single to put two on with two out before Lindsey Corbin was hit by a pitch to load the bases up. Willing to do whatever it took to keep the game going, Madison Johnson took one for the team to force home a run and tie the score at 2. The Bucs weren't done yet though as Elsie Rivera drew a four pitch walk to push home the go ahead run and Natavia Ellis did the same behind her to make it a 4-2 game.
Central Florida made some noise in the bottom of the seventh though, putting two runners in scoring position after a Buccaneer error allowed the inning to be extended. With the tying runs aboard and the winning run at the plate, FSW closer Sarah Lawton induced a pop up on the infield that Laudino took care of and the Bucs pulled off maybe their most improbable win of the season 4-2.
The Bucs managed just two hits in the win, both by Laudino, but benefitted from seven walks and three hit batters. Kelsi Collins earned the win in the circle, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs to improve to 9-0 on the year. Lawton retired both hitters she faced to earn her NJCAA leading fourth save of the year.
#3 FSW/#6 CENTRAL FLORIDA GAME ONE BOX SCORE
The Patriots struck first in game two, using a leadoff walk and an error in the FSW outfield to jump in front 1-0 after one inning of action.
The Bucs answered right back as Haley Ellefson helped herself in the circle with a solo shot at the plate to even the score at 1-1.
Central Florida got a solo shot of their own to leadoff their half of the second and after two complete, it was 2-1 Patriots.
The Bucs put up a crooked number in the third and again Laudino was the catalyst. She singled to start the inning and later scored on an RBI single from Johnson to tie the score at two. Later in the inning Owen Bowers ripped a single down the left field line to plate two more and Paris Woods slapped a double to left three pitches later to score her and make it a 5-2 game.
After a solid inning in the circle for Ellefson in the bottom of the third, the Bucs were back at it in the top half of the fourth. FSW loaded the bases with one out and Central Florida looked like they might evade further damage, but Bowers had other ideas. The freshman crushed a 1-0 pitch deep and out to left center field for her team leading sixth home run to blow the lead open to 9-2.
Central Florida got a run back in the bottom half of the frame, but Woods gunned down the second would be run scorer at the plate to end the inning and keep the Bucs comfortably in front 9-3.
Neither team got anything going in the fifth and because of darkness setting in on the field, the game was called with the Bucs taking home a 9-3 win to sweep the twinbill.
FSW outslugged the Patriots 10-5 in the shortened contest. Bowers finished 2 for 3 with a career best six RBI's while Woods, Johnson, and Laudino each finished with two hits apiece for the Bucs as well. Ellefson earned her sixth win of the year, going three innings and allowing three hits and one earned run before giving way to Lawton who finished it out with two innings of two hit ball.
#3 FSW/#6 CENTRAL FLORIDA GAME TWO BOX SCORE
The Bucs improve to 19-0 on the year with the sweep while Central Florida falls to 15-5. FSW is now 6-0 against ranked opponents in 2019.
FSW will have a week off before taking the field again on March 1st in Fort Pierce when they will take on #8 Indian River for the second time this season.