Posted: Mar 11, 2025
FORT MYERS, Fla.- For the second time in the past four games, the #6 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers stole double digit bases, erasing an early 7-1 lead for TNXL Academy with nine unanswered runs to come away with a 10-7 win to improve to 21-6 on the year.
TNXL got on the scoreboard first, loading the bases with nobody out in the 2nd before getting a sacrifice fly to bring home a run and take an early 1-0 lead.
The Ducks added on in the 3rd, putting together a two out rally and taking advantage of a misplayed fly ball by the Bucs that would have ended the inning with a two run home run to extend their lead to 4-0.
The Bucs pushed their first run across in the bottom of the third as Brock Knoerr reached on a fielder's choice with one out, stole second, and scored on an RBI single from Luke Orfi to trim the Ducks lead to 4-1.
The Bucs didn't help themselves in the 4th as TNXL scored three times on a passed ball and a pair of wild pitches to extend their lead to 7-1.
The Bucs began their comeback in the bottom of the 4th as Nathan Fink launched a two run home run to make it a 7-3 game and later in the inning a bases loaded walk to Orfi and an RBI single from Jake Mueller drew FSW to within two at 7-5. A double steal by the Bucs netted them a run to make it a one run game and a two out error by the Ducks allowed the Bucs to tie the score at 7. The Bucs weren't done yet as another double steal put two runners in scoring position for pinch hitter Michael McAloose and he delivered with a two run single to left to put the Bucs ahead 9-7.
Bucs reliever Brandon Eldridge put up two big zeros for FSW in the 5th and 6th to hold the lead and the Bucs added a run on a sac fly to up their lead to 10-7.
The FSW bullpen took over from there as Beau Brailey worked a scoreless 7th, Loic Guillemette pitched out of trouble in the 8th, and Robert Mitchell came in to close things out in the 9th as the Bucs hung on to win it 10-7.
The Bucs ran wild, swiping 11 bases in the win including four from Orfi and two from Ruocco who led the offense with a 3-4 effort at the top of the order. Eldridge earned the win on the mound with threes across the board to improve to 2-1 on the year. Mitchell notched his second save of the season getting the Bucs out of trouble in the 9th.
FSW improves to 21-6 on the year with the victory while TNXL drops to 2-4 against NJCAA squads this season.
The Bucs will turn their attention back to Citrus Conference action on Thursday when they host Seminole State in a 3 PM first pitch from Buccaneers Park.
