Posted: May 06, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Suncoast Conference Pitcher of the Year Magnus Ellerts threw six scoreless innings and Suncoast Conference Fireman of the Year Brian Holiday threw three innings of one hit baseball to close out the shutout as the #8 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers cruised past the Indian River Pioneers 7-0 in game one of their best of three series to kick off the 2022 FCSAA State Tournament in Fort Myers.
FSW starter Magnus Ellerts set the tone early on, striking out the side in the 1st and two more in the 2nd to give the Bucs a chance to take an early lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Paul Winland crushed a three run home run out to dead center to put FSW in front 3-0.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Ellerts in the 3rd, the Bucs added to their lead as Hunter Fitz-Gerald doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a two out single from Braden Forchic to make it 4-0 FSW.
A six pitch inning for Ellerts in the 4th kept it a 4-0 game and the Bucs cushioned their lead in the bottom half of the frame when Fitz-Gerald teed off on a 1-0 pitch deep and out to right for a two run shot to push the lead to 6-0.
Ellerts threw two more scoreless frames before exiting and giving way to Brian Holiday in the 7th who used a highlight reel play from Paxton Tomaini at second to get out of a jam and end the inning, keeping it a 6-0 game in favor of FSW at stretch time.
A pinch hit RBI double from Matthew Corpas in the 8th gave the Bucs an insurance run to make it 7-0, but they didn't need it as Holiday worked around a leadoff single in the 9th to close things out as the Bucs went on to take the opener 7-0 to grab a 1-0 lead in the series.
Ellerts fired six shutout frames to improve to 10-0 on the year. He allowed just four hits while striking out six in his final start at City of Palms. Holiday earned his fifth save of the season, going three shutout frames and allowing just one hit.
Fitz-Gerald and Winland's long balls powered the offense as Fitz-Gerald finished 2-4 with a double and a homer while scoring two runs and driving in another two. Winland was 1-2 with a homer and three RBIs.
The Bucs move to 41-14 on the season with the win while Indian River falls to 30-17.
FSW takes a 1-0 lead in the best of three series with game two scheduled for a 1 PM start Saturday at City of Palms Park with game three slated for the nightcap if necessary.