Posted: Feb 22, 2023
FORT MYERS, Fla.- A3 Academy rolled into Fort Myers with a Trojan Horse in tow and ambushed the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers on Wednesday at Buccaneers Park, scoring seven runs before the Bucs even got to bat for the first time before hanging on for a 14-13 win to snap a six game winning streak for FSW.
Coming into the game riding a six game winning streak, the Bucs were punched in the mouth right off the bat on Wednesday as A3 Academy, who was 0-4 against NJCAA opponents in 2023, came out of the gates swinging and scored seven runs in the top half of the 1st inning to take a 7-0 lead before the chalk had dried on the foul lines.
The Bucs had a chance to answer back right away as they loaded the bases in the bottom half of the 1st, but managed just one run before reloading the bases and leaving them that way at innings end as they trailed the Trojans 7-1.
FSW had more traffic on the basepaths in the 2nd as they once again loaded the bases, but this time they were able to come through with the big hit, a double from Derek Williams to clear the bases and get the Bucs back to within three at 7-4 with one swing of the bat.
Jahir Perez posted another zero for the Bucs on the mound in the top of the 3rd and gave FSW a chance to level the score in the bottom half as they loaded the bases for the third straight inning with just one out, but they managed just a lone run on a Trojan error before the inning ended on the bases with a pick off to keep A3 in front 7-5.
A3 added to their lead in the 4th with a pair of runs, but the Bucs matched the two spot on an RBI single from Johnnie Lopez and an RBI groundout from Austin Douglas to make it a two run game once again at 9-7.
The Bucs couldn't slow the Trojans down though as A3 strung together five hits in the 5th including three straight with two outs to push across three runs and stretch their lead to 12-7.
It was more of the same in the 6th as A3 plated two more, taking a 14-7 lead on a stunned FSW dugout at the end of six.
An RBI double from Douglas in the 8th made it a 14-8 game and a two run double and a two run home run from Albert Serrano made it interesting in the 9th, but the Bucs couldn't get the tying run on and fell 14-13 after a strikeout looking ended the contest.
The Bucs were outhit 13-9 in the contest and couldn't take advantage of 16 free passes, 11 walks, and five hit batters, leaving 11 men on in the loss. Williams had another big game offensively for FSW, going 2-4 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs while Douglas and Serrano each drove home two. Isaac Upole was saddled with the loss, failing to get out of the first inning while allowing seven runs on four hits to fall to 2-1 on the year. Reyn Watson was the lone bright spot on the mound for the Bucs as he went three shutout innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four.
FSW sees their six game win streak come to an end with the loss as they fall to 10-7 on the year while A3 Academy earns their first win over an NJCAA program this season in five tries.
The Bucs will look to get back on the winning track on Friday when they travel to Winter Haven to take on Polk State in a non-conference contest.