FORT PIERCE, Fla.- A big 4th inning and a solid pitching performance on the mound led the Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers over the Indian River Pioneers 9-4 Friday afternoon in Fort Pierce. Abi Ortiz had three hits and homered while Matthew Corpas drove in three to lead the Bucs to their ninth win of the season.  

 

The Bucs got on the board first when Warnner Rincones ripped an RBI single and a misplayed fly ball by the Pioneers led to another run to give FSW a 2-0 lead in the top half of the 2nd.  

 

A solo home run and three other hits for Indian River plated a pair for the Pioneers in the bottom of the 2nd to quickly tie the game back up at 2. 

 

The Bucs loaded the bases in the third, but were picked off at second base with a 2-0 count on Axel Melendez to end the threat and keep the game tied at 2.  

 

Carlos Rodriguez dealt a 1-2-3 frame in the 3rd for the Bucs and the FSW offense gave him all the run support he needed their next time up.  

 

A bases loaded double from Matthew Corpas cleared the bases and put the Bucs up 5-2 and he scored himself on a groundout later in the inning to make it 6-2.  Two pitches later, a two run home run from Abimelec Ortiz gave the Bucs a six spot on the scoreboard and an 8-2 lead at the end of 3 1/2. 

 

A sacrifice fly from Carter Cunningham cushioned the Bucs lead to 9-2 and Rodriguez held the lead there through five for FSW.  

 

Grant Besser came out of the Bucs bullpen in the 6th and was outstanding, keeping Indian River from getting any closer through the 6th and 7th innings.  

 

The Pioneers finally pushed one across in the 8th and got another in the 9th, but it was too little too late as the Bucs closed them out for a 9-4 victory. 

 

The Bucs banged out 12 hits in the win, getting three hit games from Rincones and Ortiz who also homered and drove in a pair in the victory. Corpas finished 2-4 with a double and three RBIs for the Bucs while Ronny Medina went 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and two stolen bases.  Rodriguez earned the win to improve to 3-1 on the year, going five innings and allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four. Besser threw three solid frames, allowing a lone run before Riley Skeen closed things out striking out two in the 9th. 

 

FSW snaps a five game slide to improve to 9-6 on the year while Indian River falls to 3-3-1.  

 

The Bucs have a quick turnaround as they take the field at home on Saturday at 1:00 when they take on Elev8 Academy at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.