FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers found themselves in a 2-1 dogfight late in Saturday afternoon's non-conference finale against the Pasco Hernando State Bobcats before a seven run, two out rally in the 6th blew the game open and led to a 12-2 win for FSW to push the Bucs to 16-7 on the year. 

 

The Bucs got the scoring started in the 2nd inning when Christian Lucio crushed a 3-0 pitch out to deep right to give FSW an early 1-0 lead.  

 

FSW starter Alex Ayala dominated the Bobcat bats through five and the Bucs rewarded their lefthander with another run in the 5th on an RBI single from Warnner Rincones to put the Bucs up 2-0. 

 

Pasco took advantage of an FSW pitching change in the 6th to get on the board for the first time in the game and cut the Bucs lead in half to 2-1.  

 

The bottom of the 6th started inconspicuously enough for the Bucs as they sat with a runner at first with two outs in the inning.  Two more walks loaded the bases for FSW and Yadiel Santana drew a walk to force home a run and make it 3-1. A two run single down the left field from Rincones cushioned the Bucs lead to 5-1 and three pitches later Carter Cunningham crushed a ball to deep right field to plate two more and Cunningham himself scored on a Bobcat error to stretch the lead to 8-1. The Bucs weren't done yet.  After Pasco went to the bullpen for the third time in the inning, Matthew Corpas greeted the Bobcats' reliever with a solo home run off the scoreboard in left center to give the Bucs seven runs in the inning and a 9-1 lead in the game.  

 

Rincones continued his big day in the 8th, doubling to center to score two more and make it an 11-1 game and later in the inning Kalvin Alexander ripped a pinch hit double to score Rincones to make it 12-1.  

 

Pasco got a run in the 9th but it was not nearly enough as the Bucs closed out a 12-2 win to wrap up non-conference action 16-7.  

 

The Bucs had 11 hits in the win and characteristically took advantage of nine free passes on the afternoon. Rincones led the Bucs offense, going 3-5 with two doubles and five RBIs in the win while Luis Tuero also had a pair of two baggers, finishing 2-3 with three runs scored.  Ayala earned the win on the mound with his best outing of the year, going five shutout innings and allowing just one hit while striking out eight to improve to 2-2 on the year. Matt Whitney earned a three inning save, allowing two hits and one run to close things out for the Bucs.  

 

FSW improves to 16-7 with the win while Pasco falls to 9-12.  

 

The reigning Suncoast Conference Champion Bucs will now turn their attention to conference play where they will begin their journey to repeat on Monday when they start a three game set with Polk State on the road in Winter Haven.