Posted: Feb 16, 2024
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers dropped their first game of the season to Region VIII rival Chipola on day two of the 2024 Paradise Cove Classic in Fort Myers, but bounced back for an impressive 6-1 win over #3 Wallace State to close the weekend at 11-1 on the year.
The Bucs first game of the day started with a historic feat as thanks to a dropped third strike in the top half of the 1st, FSW pitcher Esmee Ames was able to join elite company with a four strikeout inning against the Chipola Indians.
Chipola cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the 2nd as they got a two out RBI single back up the middle to plate one, but a pair of throwing errors by the Bucs allowed the Indians to push across two more on the same play to give Chipola a 3-0 lead once the dust settled.
The Bucs answered back in the 4th as Maddy Golka lined a two out RBI single over the Indians second baseman and Ella Moore scored on a passed ball to get FSW back to within one at 3-2 after four.
A solo home run for the Indians in the 5th doubled the lead to 4-2 and Chipola tacked on three more in the 6th to open up a 7-2 advantage.
The Bucs went to their final at bats in the 7th down 8-2 and managed to scratch out a pair of runs on RBI singles from Emily Allegood and Nicole Edmiaston to bring the tying run to the plate, but a pop up on the infield ended the threat and the game as Chipola knocked the Bucs from the list of unbeatens with an 8-4 upset win.
The Bucs and Indians finished with eight hits a side with Sydney McCray and Ella Moore both picking up a pair of knocks and scoring a run in the loss. Three FSW errors allowed three unearned runs to score while Bucs pitching yielded an uncharacteristic eight walks in the defeat. Esmee Ames suffered her first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 after allowing five hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Things didn't get any easier in the Bucs second game of the afternoon as they squared off with #3 Wallace State who was fresh off a Top 10 win over Indian River earlier in the afternoon.
Both teams had traffic early with runners being left in scoring position for both the Bucs and Lions in both halves of the 1st and 2nd innings, but neither could push anything across as the game remained tied into the 3rd.
A two out solo home run for the Lions in the 3rd got the scoring going and the Bucs answered right away in the bottom of the frame as Moore came up clutch with a two out, two run line shot to the gap for a double to put FSW in front 2-1.
Bucs starter Lea Chevrier worked a quick 1-2-3 frame in the top of the 4th and her offense rewarded her with another run in the bottom half of the inning as Virginia Mambelli and Kmari Williams hit back to back doubles and McCray lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring Mambelli home and make it a 3-1 game.
The Bucs flashed some leather in the 5th to get out of a jam as they worked your everyday 6-3-2 double play to end the inning and keep the Lions from getting any closer to keep it a 3-1 game.
FSW played small ball to extend their lead in the bottom of the 5th as Allegood dropped down a picture perfect bunt, moved to second when Edmiaston was hit by a pitch and then both scooted up 60 feet on a sacrifice bunt from Moore and then came around to score on a double from Golka to give the Bucs some breathing room at 5-1.
The Bucs added some insurance in the 6th as they scored for the fourth consecutive inning when McCray walked with one out, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Skylar Brennan to make it a 6-1 game.
The insurance was appreciated, but not needed by Chevrier who took the circle for the 7th to finish what she started and that she did, getting her eighth strikeout of the day followed by a fly out to close things out and secure the 6-1 win for FSW.
The Bucs banged out 11 hits in the win led by a pair of freshmen in the middle of their order as Allegood and Edmiaston combined to go 6-6 with three runs scored while Moore and Golka each doubled and drove in a pair. Chevrier improved to 6-0 on the year in the circle, going the distance and scattering seven hits while allowing just one run and striking out eight for the Bucs.
The Saturday split moved the Bucs to 11-1 on the year as they close out the 2024 Paradise Cove Classic 3-1.
The Bucs will have the week off before taking the field again on Sunday, February 16th when they welcome Alverno College from Wisconsin to Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers for a non-conference doubleheader.