FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers won their season opener 9-3 over ASA Miami Friday morning at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers, overcoming a late 3-1 deficit with a four run 6th and a four run 7th to kick off the 2022 campaign.
The Bucs got on the board right away, using a Silver Storm error in the bottom of the 1st to take an early 1-0 lead.
In front of a bevy of Major League scouts, FSW start Ronaldo Fernandez dazzled, running his fastball up to 94 MPH while spinning four scoreless innings to keep the Bucs in front 1-0.
The Bucs went to their bullpen in the 5th and ASA Miami took advantage, getting a solo shot in the 5th and a two run home run in the 6th to go in front 3-1.
To begin the FSW 6th, Yadiel Santana legged out an infield single and while it seemed of little significance at the time, it started a big rally for the Bucs to put them back in front. After a pair of walks to load the bases, Matthew Corpas battled back from down 0-2 in the count to coax a walk of his own to force home a run and make it 3-2. A wild pitch allowed the Bucs second run of the inning to score to tie the game at 3 and one batter later, Jose Izarra blooped a single to center to plate two more to make it 5-3. Later in the frame Kendry Noriega lifted a sac fly to left, extending the Bucs lead to 6-3 at the end of six.
It looked like the 7th was going to breeze past without anything on the board for either side after a 1-2-3 top half and the Bucs first two hitters being retired, but a walk to Braden Forchic got FSW going and three straight extra base hits, an RBI triple from Paul Winland, an RBI double from Simon Baumer, and a two run home run to left from Kalvin Alexander quickly doubled the FSW lead to 9-3.
Ben Petschke came in out of the FSW bullpen to close things out in the 8th and 9th, tossing a pair of scoreless frames and that is the way it ended as the Bucs claimed a 9-3 opening day victory.
The Bucs finished with eight hits, including five extra base hits in the win. Winland was the only FSW player with multiple hits in the victory, finishing 2-2 with a double, a triple, and two runs scored, while also reaching base twice via walks. Fernandez spun four shutout innings with six strikeouts for FSW in his first start of the season. Alejandro Valiente benefitted from the Bucs midgame offensive explosion, earning the win on the mound despite allowing three runs in three innings of relief.
FSW will be back in action tonight at 6:30 when they make the trip over to Terry Park to take on Gulf Coast state under the lights.
#15 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN/ASA MIAMI BOX SCORE