MIAMI, Fla.- Tyler Kennedy threw five innings of no-hit baseball while AJ Shaver homered twice and drove in seven as the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers claimed a big 7-1 Southern Conference victory over the #20 Miami Dade Sharks Friday afternoon in Miami. 

 

The Bucs got on the board first Friday as after two quick outs to start the 2^nd inning, a Miami Dade error allowed FSW to extend the frame and they took full advantage, loading the bases on a pair of walks before AJ Shaver crushed his 17^th home run of the season, a grand slam, out to left field to put the Bucs up 4-0 with one swing of the bat.

 

FSW starter Tyler Kennedy kept it right there, working a 1-2-3 bottom of the 2^nd and working around an error in the 3^rd to keep the Bucs in front 4-0 at the end of three.  

 

The Bucs had a chance to extend upon their lead in the 4^th as they loaded the bases once again with two outs after the Sharks intentionally walked Shaver, but a ground out ended the threat and kept it a 4-0 game for the time being. 

 

Kennedy put up another zero in the 4^th and breezed through the Sharks order in the 5^th to keep it a 4-0 game in favor of the Bucs after five complete innings of action.  

 

The Sharks got their first hit of the game against the Bucs bullpen in the 6^th and it turned into a run on a double, but FSW reliever Reyn Watson was able to limit the damage to just one to keep FSW on top 4-1 at the end of six. 

 

Zach Locke came in out of the Bucs bullpen for a scoreless 7^th to keep it a 4-1 game and Lucas Hartman did the same in a 1-2-3 bottom of the 8^th as the game breezed to the 9^th with the score still 4-1. 

 

The top of the Bucs lineup set the table for Shaver once again in the 9^th as Albert Serrano and Sergio Rivera legged out infield singled to begin the frame and Shaver took full advantage, launching his second home run of the game out to dead center for a three run shot to cushion the Bucs lead to 7-1.  

 

With the game in hand, Hartman retired the Sharks in order in the 9^th to close them out as the Bucs finished off Miami Dade 7-1 for a key Southern Conference victory. 

 

Shaver was the offense for the Bucs, going 3-4 with two home runs while driving in all seven Buccaneer runs in the contest.  Kennedy turned in his best start as a Buc in a big spot, tossing five no-hit frames, striking out five to earn the win and improve to 3-4 on the year.  Hartman threw two perfect innings to close things out and earn his seventh save of the year. 

 

The Bucs improve to 29-19 overall and 10-9 in Southern Conference action with the win while Miami Dade, who has already clinched the league title, falls to 29-13-1 and 13-6 in conference play. 

 

FSW will be back in action at home on Saturday as they take on Eastern Florida State in the first of two games against the Titans to close out their conference slate.