FORT MYERS, FLA.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers continued their winning ways on Wednesday, improving to 25-0 on the year with a clean sweep of the visiting Miami Dade Sharks at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers.
The Bucs got on the board early and often as Haley Ellefson and Rebeca Laudino ripped RBI singles in the second inning to put FSW in front 2-0.
Miami Dade scored in the top of the third thanks in part to an FSW error, but it didn't faze the Bucs as they answered with six of their own in the bottom half of the frame highlighted by a two run triple from Madison Johnson to open the lead to 8-1.
The Bucs defense cost themselves two more runs in the sixth to let the Sharks back into the game at 8-3.
FSW loaded the bases without an out in the bottom of the sixth and quickly put the game away as Elsie Rivera drove home two with a single to center and Miami Dade threw a ball away on a Buc stolen base attempt to give FSW their third run of the inning to kick in the run rule at 11-3.
The Bucs outhit the Sharks 12-3 in the win, getting three hits from Laudino at the top of the order and two RBI's each from Rivera and Johnson. Kelsi Collins picked up her 11th win of the season in the circle, going the distance while allowing three hits and three runs, all unearned, and striking out eight.
#1 FSW/MIAMI DADE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
FSW jumped on the Sharks right away in game two loading the bases without an out in their first at bats and quickly scoring three on a bases clearing double from Pallas Potter to give the Bucs a 3-0 lead.
That was all that Haley Ellefson would need in the circle for the Bucs as she cruised for FSW, blanking the Sharks through five innings to keep the Purple and Aqua up 3-0.
FSW put the game away in the fifth as Laudino doubled home a run and then scored on a double from Owen Bowers to make it 5-0. Later in the inning Bowers herself scored on a ringing single from Potter to push the lead to 6-0 after five.
Miami Dade broke up the shutout in the seventh, but it was too little, too late as the Bucs went on to win 6-1 to complete the sweep.
Ellefson improved to a perfect 9-0 on the year with five shutout innings, allowing just four hits to the Sharks. Potter powered the FSW offense, finishing 2 for 3 with four RBI's in the win.
#1 FSW/MIAMI DADE GAME TWO BOX SCORE
The Bucs improve to a perfect 25-0 with the wins while Miami Dade fell to 7-15.
FSW is back in action this weekend in Columbus, Georgia where they will take part in the NFCA Leadoff Classic Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They return home next Tuesday to begin Suncoast Conference play where they will battle St. Petersburg at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers.