FORT MYERS, FLA.- With limited opportunities of late, Florida SouthWestern State freshman Diego Millan picked up his first hit in nearly six weeks on Saturday and it couldn't have come in a bigger spot as he broke a 6-6 tie with a two out RBI single in the seventh inning which proved the difference as the Buccaneers got past South Florida State 7-6. The win clinched a series win and push the Bucs back into a playoff spot with 10 games remaining in the 2019 regular season.
The Bucs jumped in front right away as the red hot Tommy Joseph ripped an RBI single in the bottom half of the first inning to give FSW an early 1-0 lead.
FSW was gifted a four spot in the second, doing all of their damage without coming up with a hit. The Bucs pushed runs across on three bases loaded hit batters and a bases loaded walk to stretch their lead to 5-0.
The Bucs handed three runs right back to South Florida in the top of the third, booting a tailor made double play ball with the bases loaded, followed by a two run single squeezed in down the right field line to cut the FSW lead to 5-3.
It remained a 5-3 game to the fifth when the Panthers struck again, this time with a two out, two run single to knot the score up at five.
South Florida came through in the clutch again in the sixth with another two out run scoring knock to score their sixth unanswered run to take their first lead of the game at 6-5.
The Bucs had a prime opportunity to answer back in the bottom of the inning, putting runners on second and third with nobody out, but they were unable to find a way to get the equalizer home and remained down 6-5 as the teams went to the seventh.
Thomas Haggerty worked a quick 1-2-3 top half of the seveneth to give the Bucs another shot after stretch time.
This time they took advantage of their opportunity as Nathan Kinsch doubled to start the inning and Josh McAllister picked up a bunt single to put two on and no out. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up 90 feet and a fielder's choice groundout scored Kinsch to tie the score at six. After working the count full with two outs, Diego Millan came up big off the FSW bench, ripping an RBI single to left to put the Bucs back in front 7-6.
That was all they needed as Haggerty slammed the door in the eighth and ninth, securing a 7-6 win for the Bucs to clinch the series win over the Panthers.
Haggerty was lights out out of the FSW bullpen, throwing three no hit innings to earn his fourth win of the season. The Bucs were outhit 8-6, but used 11 South Florida free passes to do the bulk of their damage. Joseph reached three times with a hit and two walks while Millan came off the Bucs bench for his first hits since March 1st, going 2 for 2 with the game winning RBI in the seventh.
#10 FSW improves to 31-11 overall on the year, but more importantly, works their way back into a second place tie with State College of Florida in the Suncoast Conference standings at 12-8. South Florida State falls to 15-29 overall and 4-16 in conference action with the loss.
The Bucs will look to finish off the sweep Monday in Avon Park when they battle the Panthers in the series final in a 6 PM start.
#10 FSW/SOUTH FLORIDA ST. GAME TWO BOX SCORE