FORT MYERS, Fla.- After a disappointing opening game of the Fort Myers Regional Friday, the #7 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers flipped the script on Saturday, hammering the Pensacola State Pirates 11-3 in a seven inning run rule to force a deciding game three Sunday at Buccaneers Park with a trip to the FCSAA Final Four on the line. 

 

Things got off to a much better start for the Bucs on Saturday as after playing out of a 4-0 hole in game one, they jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game two. Anthony Ruocco, Brock Knoerr, and Jake Mueller ripped three straight two out RBI singles in the top of the 2^nd to plate five runs and give the Bucs an early 5-0 advantage. 

 

The Bucs added to their lead in the in the 3^rd as Luke Orfi walked, stole second and then stole third before scoring on an RBI single from Michael McAloose to make it 6-0 FSW. 

 

Pensacola had a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the 3^rd as they loaded the bases with nobody out, but FSW starter Abel Albarran worked out of the jam, allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly to keep the Bucs in front 6-1. 

 

The Bucs got the run back quickly in the top of the 4^th as Brock Knoerr drew a leadoff walk and trotted home as Mueller launched a towering two run home run to dead center to up the Bucs lead to 8-1. 

 

Albarran worked a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the 4^th and the Bucs were right back at it in the 5^th as Ruocco drove home a run with a single to right and a second FSW run scored on a Pensacola error to make it 10-1 Bucs. 

 

Pensacola loaded the bases once again with nobody out in the 5^th and this time came through with a two run single to make it a 10-3 game and chase Albarran from the contest. Beau Brailey came in out of the FSW bullpen to get the Bucs out of the jam and FSW continued to lead it big, 10-3 at the end of five. 

 

The Bucs scored for the fifth straight inning in the 6^th as Carlos Sanchez shot a line drive down the right field line and inside the pole for a solo home run to stretch the FSW lead 11-3. 

 

The Pirates packed the pillows for the third time in the game in the 6^th but Brailey dialed up a strikeout to douse the flames and wrap up the 11-3 run rule win for FSW. 

 

The Bucs banged out 12 hits in the win with five different players notching multi-hit contests. Ruocco was 3-5 with a double and three RBIs at the top of the lineup while Mueller was 2-4 with a homer and three RBIs in the middle.  The line of the day came from Orfi who finished officially 0-3, but stole four bases and scored three times for FSW. 

 

Albarran benefitted from the offensive outburst to earn the win on the mound, going 4 1/3 innings and working around seven walks to improve to 6-1 on the year. Brailey was outstanding out of the FSW bullpen, missing his first career save by just one out, going 2 2/3 shutout frames, striking out three and allowing just one hit. 

 

The Bucs pick up their 40^th win of the season, improving to 40-14 on the year while Pensacola drops to 27-20 with the defeat. 

 

The Bucs and Pirates will square off with their seasons on the line on Sunday at 1 PM at Buccaneers Park in game three of the series with the winner advancing to the FCSAA Final Four and the loser calling it a year.