FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers moved to 10-0 on the season Wednesday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers, holding on late for a 3-2 win over #8 Miami Dade.
The Bucs jumped in front right off the bat in the 1st as Paul Winland walked to begin the game and later came around to score on an RBI groundout from Yadiel Santana to put FSW on top 1-0.
After a quick 1-2-3 top of the 2nd for Frank Elissalt and the Bucs, FSW added to their advantage as Jose Izarra cracked his first collegiate homer out to deep left to double the lead to 2-0.
Miami Dade got their first baserunner and first hit of the game in the 3rd, but Elissalt stranded both runners with a nasty slider down and away for his fifth strikeout of the game to keep it a 2-0 game in favor of the Bucs.
The certified Shark killer Ronny Medina was at it once again in the 4th, crushing his third home run in as many games against Miami Dade this season out to left center to make it 3-0 FSW.
Miami Dade took advantage of four FSW walks in the top of the 5th to crack the scoreboard for the first time, plating a pair of runs on just one hit to slice the Bucs lead to 3-2 midway through.
Reliever Brian Holiday struck out the side for the Bucs in the top of the 6th, but FSW couldn't get anything going offensively and it remained a 3-2 game as the teams moved to the 7th.
The Bucs looked like they were in trouble in the 8th as Miami Dade put two on with just one out before a single right back up the box threatened to tie the game, but Yadiel Santana had other ideas as he gunned the would-be tying run down at the plate and FSW got out of the jam completely one batter later to keep it a 3-2 game in favor of the Purple and Aqua.
Although the Bucs were unable to add any insurance in the bottom of the 8th, they didn't need it as the reigning FCSAA Pitcher of the Week Grant Besser retired the Sharks in order in the 9th to finish off a 3-2 win and secure his second save of the 2022 campaign.
Each side had just four hits on the afternoon while both also played a clean game defensively as the contest was played without an error. Holiday earned his second win of the season out of the FSW bullpen, going 2 2/3 innings without allowing a hit or a run and striking out four.
FSW improves to 10-0 on the year with the win. The victory over the 8th ranked Sharks is their fourth of the season over a Top 20 ranked program. Miami Dade falls to 6-4 with three of the four losses coming to FSW.
The Bucs are back in action this weekend when they travel to Palatka for tournament action. Their first contest will be Friday night under the lights when they take on Gulf Coast State for the second time this season.