Posted: Jan 30, 2023
FORT MYERS, Fla.- If Monday's home opener at Buccaneers Park was any indication, the Bucs brand new on campus field is going to be a pitcher's park, as Belle Sardja and Kylee Graham combined for a no-hitter to christen the park in a 10-0 run rule win over Florida National University.
It wasn't the Bucs, but the Conquistadors that looked nervous early on in FSW's first game in their new on campus home. FSW pushed across two runs without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the 1st, taking advantage of a pair of walks and a hit batter to take an early 2-0 lead on the Conqs.
FSW starter Belle Sardja worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the 2nd to get the Bucs back in the dugout and they continued to pour it on FNU in the bottom of the frame.
D'Yani McKinley walked and stole second before Maddy Golka drilled a triple to the wall to make it 3-0 and Shenita Tucker lined one to left on the next pitch for an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0. Tucker swiped career base #70 to move into scoring position and she scored on a Conquistador error to make it 5-0 FSW. Two batters later and with two runners on, Samantha Smith smacked her second home run in two games, deep and out to center to blow the game open to 8-0 in favor of the Purple and Aqua.
The Bucs continued to pour it on in the 3rd as Sydney McCray drove home a run with a ground ball and Ella Moore got into the act, crushing an RBI double down the line to make it 10-0.
FSW went to their bench and bullpen in the 4th, making a flurry of changes, but the results were the same as Kylee Graham took over in the circle. The southpaw got a pair of ground outs and a strikeout to keep the shutout intact and the Bucs on top 10-0.
Without a hit on the board, the Conquistadors took the bats needing three runs to keep the game going in the 5th but they wouldn't get close to that as Graham worked around a two out walk, getting a backwards K to close thing out, not only preserving the shutout for the Bucs, but also finishing off a no-hitter in the process.
Sardja and Graham were outstanding in the circle with Sardja going three innings, striking out five to earn the win while Graham went the final two to finish off the no-no. It is the second no hitter that Sardja has been a part of after no hitting St. Petersburg in conference play a season ago as a freshman.
The Bucs needed just six hits to score their 10 runs with Smith leading the way going 1-1 with her three run home run while also reaching twice via walks. Tucker and McCray each stole a pair of bases and scored twice atop the Bucs lineup in the win.
FSW improves to 4-1 on the season with the victory while Florida National drops their season opener.
The Bucs played an exhibition against the Conqs after the win, unofficially winning that game 11-1 as well.
FSW will be back in action on Friday and Saturday in Naples when they host the Paradise Cove Classic at North Collier Regional Park. The Bucs have a pair of big matchups on the docket as they open action against #12 and defending FCSAA State Champions Central Florida Friday at 1 before a 3 PM date with St. John's River. On Saturday they square off with long time rivals #14 Chipola at 10:30 AM and will wrap up the weekend against St. Thomas JV Saturday at 2:30 PM.
