Posted: Apr 23, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Ronny Medina, Paxton Tomaini, and Kalvin Alexander homered and Frank Elissalt threw five solid innings on the mound as the #11 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers put it on the visiting Hillsborough Hawks 12-2 on Sophomore Day at City of Palms Park Saturday.
After two scoreless innings on the bump from Frank Elissalt to get the game started, the Bucs jumped in front in the bottom of the 2nd as Kendry Noriega ripped a two run double the other way to give FSW an early 2-0 lead.
The Bucs added to their lead one inning later as Ronny Medina cranked a three run homer deep and out to left to make it a 5-0 game.
A leadoff double for the Hawks in the 4th helped Hillsborough to plate their first run of the day, but the Bucs responded with three more of their own in the bottom of the frame to up their lead to 8-1.
Another leadoff two bagger for Hillsborough in the 6th ultimately led to their second run of the contest and the same for FSW in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-2 after six.
The leadoff double trend continued in the 7th as Jose Izarra ripped a double down the line and came home three pitches later as Paxton Tomaini touched off a two run shot to left to make it 11-2 Bucs.
Grant Besser came on out of the FSW bullpen and struck out the side in the top of the 8th and Kalvin Alexander finished things off with a long blast to left to begin the bottom of the inning to kick in the run rule with the Bucs taking the game 12-2.
It was all FSW all day as the Bucs outhit the Hawks 13-5 in the win, led by Medina who finished 3-3 with his 3rd inning homer and four RBIs and Tomaini who was 2-3 with a homer, three runs scored, and three RBIs in the victory. Elissalt picked up the win on the mound to improve to 4-3 on the year, going five innings and allowing four hits and one run while striking out three.
The Bucs inch closer to their 40th win of the season as they improve to 38-14 overall and 23-4 in Suncoast Conference play while Hillsborough drops to 18-29 overall and 8-18 in conference action.
FSW will play at home for the final time in 2022 on Monday when they host ASA Miami in a non-conference contest beginning at 3 PM.