Posted: Feb 27, 2024
FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers quest for a third straight Conference Championship in their third different conference began with a bang this afternoon at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers as FSW held on late against St. Petersburg 7-4 in game one of their doubleheader before blowing out the Titans 10-0 in game two of the twinbill to complete the sweep.
The Bucs couldn't have gotten off to much of a better start Tuesday afternoon as Lea Chevrier came out and struck out the side in the 1st and the FSW offense came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning as Skylar Brennan blasted a two run home run to right and Virginia Mambelli and Maddy Golka ripped back to back doubles to put the Bucs up 5-0 at the end of one inning of action.
St. Pete took advantage of an FSW error in the 3rd to push their first run across to make it a 5-1 game and it remained that way all the way to the 6th as both sides had trouble hitting with runners on through the middle innings.
The Titans mounted a two out rally in the top of the 6th , getting back to back RBI singles to get to within two before a bases loaded walk drew St. Pete to within one at 5-4.
The Bucs got two runs back in the bottom of the inning as Sietske Drijvers split the gap with a two out, two run triple to add some insurance and put the Bucs in front 7-4.
Bucs reliever Esmee Ames did the rest, setting the Titans down 1-2-3 in the top of the 7th to close it out and give FSW a 7-4 win.
Golka led the Bucs with a 2-2, two RBI effort while Drijvers and Brennan each drove in two runs as well for FSW. Chevrier earned the win in the circle, improving to 7-0 on the year, going 5 2/3 innings and striking out nine while Ames earned her first save of the season with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Bucs.
The Bucs jumped out ahead again in game two as Sydney McCray walked and used her wheels to get to third in the blink of an eye before scoring on a groundout from Drijvers to give FSW an early 1-0 lead.
It remained a 1-0 game to the 3rd when the Bucs packed onto their lead as Emily Allegood helped herself with an RBI single and Golka hooked an RBI double down the line to make it a 5-0 game.
St. Pete had their best scoring chance of the game in the 4th when they put two on with one out, but Allegood worked her way out of the jam to keep the shutout intact and the Bucs up 5-0.
The Bucs speed was on display again in the 4th as McKinley beat out an infield single and not one, but two Bucs motored home on the play to make it 7-0. After an RBI groundout made it 8-0, Mia Terito drilled a pinch hit, opposite field two run home run to right to cushion the Bucs lead to 10-0.
Leah Meyer came in out of the Bucs bullpen and finished things off, working around a one out single to keep the Titans off the board in the 5th to kick in the run rule and give FSW a 10-0 win.
Allegood earned the win in the circle, pushing her scoreless innings streak to 10 with four innings of three hit work to improve to 2-0 on the year. McKinley led the offense with a 2-3, two RBI effort while also scoring two runs.
The Bucs improve to 15-1 overall on the season with the sweep while starting Citrus Conference play 2-0. St. Petersburg falls to 7-11 overall and opens league action 0-2.
The Bucs will be back at it Thursday when they travel to Sanford for a Top 10 matchup with Seminole State beginning at 1 PM. They return home Saturday to take on Daytona State in a 1 PM doubleheader at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.