Sydney McCray (Photo by Roy Allen)
Posted: Feb 03, 2023
NAPLES, Fla.- Sydney McCray hit a grand slam in game one and the hometown girl Caroline Figueroa drove in four in game two as the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers brought home 7-5 and 13-9 wins over #12 Central Florida and St. John's River Friday at the Paradise Cove Classic in Naples.
Things didn't get off to the most opportune start for the Bucs in the 1st against #12 Central Florida as three FSW errors allowed the Patriots to score three unearned runs to take a 3-0 lead before The Bucs even got a chance to hit.
The Bucs got the runs right back and some in the 2nd as they loaded the bases with one out before freshman Sydney McCray cranked her first career home run out to right, a grand slam, to put FSW in front 4-3 with one swing of the bat.
FSW added to their lead in the 3rd as Feline Poot doubled to start the frame and came in to score on a groundout from Ella Moore to make it 5-3 Bucs.
FSW starter Lea Chevrier put up her third straight zero in the top of the 4th and the Bucs padded their lead in the bottom of the inning when Shenita Tucker lined an RBI single up the middle and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Poot to make it 7-3 FSW.
A solo home run cut the Bucs lead to 7-4 in the 5th and it remained a three run game in favor of the Bucs as the teams went to the 7th and final inning.
The Bucs fifth error of the game led to another unearned run in the Central Florida 7th, but Belle Sardja came in out of the FSW bullpen to slam the door, striking out the final two Patriot hitters she faced with the tying runs on base to lock down a 7-5 win for the Bucs.
McCray's blast was the big blow for FSW in the win while Tucker finished 2-3 with a pair of runs scored from the leadoff spot. Chevrier picked up a hard earned win in the circle, going six innings and allowing just one earned run before handing the ball to Sardja in the 7th for her third save of the year.
Things got off to quite a bit better start for the Bucs in game two as they took on St. John's River. Playing as the visiting team on the scoreboard, FSW bolted out to a 6-0 lead in the top half of the 1st, getting an RBI single from Poot, a two run double from Ella Moore, and a two run triple from D'Yani McKinley to put the Vikings in a big hole early.
Bucs pitching couldn't find the strike zone in the bottom half of the inning, walking the first three Viking hitters of the frame before a groundout pushed a run home to make it a 6-1 game.
FSW quickly got the run back on a ground out from Caroline Figueroa in the top of the 2nd to make it a six run game once again at 7-1.
The Bucs went to their bench with defensive switches in the bottom of the inning and the Vikings took advantage, scoring four times on just two hits to get right back in the game at 7-5.
Giulia Bancora got momentum back on the Bucs side in the 3rd, lining a two out single to left to plate two to make it 9-5 before a wild pitch by the Vikings allowed her to score later in the frame to pad FSW's lead to 10-5.
After a quick inning in the circle from reliever Kylee Graham, the Bucs scored for the fourth straight inning in the top of the 4th on a sac fly from Tucker to make it 11-5.
The Bucs put the game out of reach in the 5th when Figueroa drilled a two run double to the gap in left to make it 13-5.
One out away from the run rule in the bottom of the 5th, the Vikings put together three straight hits and scored a pair of runs to keep the game alive and scored two more in the 7th before Graham finished them off with a strikeout to end the rally and give the Bucs a 13-9 win.
The Bucs banged out 13 hits in the win with Jennifer Battiste lead the way with a 3-3 effort off the bench and Figueroa who finished with four RBIs. Graham finished with the weird distinction of throwing seven innings, but not getting credit for a complete game, scattering eight hits and striking out eight to improve to 3-0 on the year.
FSW improves to 6-1 on the year with the wins.
The Bucs will be back in action with a marquee matchup Saturday afternoon when they take on #14 and rival Chipola in a 12:45 PM start from North Collier Regional Park in North Naples. After the Bucs battle the Indians, they will wrap up the weekend with a test against St. Thomas University at 3:00 PM.
