BRADENTON, FLA.- Haley Ellefson homered in extra innings in game one and Kelsi Collins was lights out in the circle in game two as the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers swept a doubleheader from State College of Florida on Thursday, giving the Bucs the top spot in the Suncoast Conference standings at the midway point.
Game one of the twinbill was a pitcher's duel through four innings of play as FSW's Sarah Lawton locked up with SCF's Kailey Christian. Both teams had chances, but couldn't break through against the right handers as the game flew to the fifth scoreless.
The Bucs got on the board first in the fifth inning as a pair of bunt singles got things going and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Owen Bowers and a two out single from Paris Woods brought home runs to give FSW a 2-0 lead.
The Manatees answered right away, getting two back in the bottom of the fifth to knot the score back up at two.
The Bucs put runners aboard in both the sixth and seventh but couldn't score while Lawton kept SCF off the board in her next two frames to send the game to extras tied at two.
FSW broke the tie in the eighth when Haley Ellefson lifted off on her sixth home run of the year to give the Bucs a 3-2 lead.
Lawton made it hold as she worked a quick 1-2-3 eighth, getting three pop ups to close out a 3-2 win for the Bucs.
The Bucs pounded out 10 hits in the win, getting hits from each of the first seven hitters in their order. Ellefson finished 2 for 4 with the game winning RBI in the eighth while Rebeca Laudino and Lindsey Corbin each had two hits and a run scored at the top of the FSW order. Lawton went the distance in the circle for the Bucs, earning her seventh win of the season by allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out seven.
#1 FSW/STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA GAME ONE BOX SCORE
The Bucs made sure there was far less drama in game two. FSW used some sloppy Manatee defense to score three unearned runs in the top of the first and added another run later in the inning as Ellefson singled up the middle to make it a 4-0 game.
FSW added to their lead in the fifth when Bowers doubled home a pair and Woods drove her in with a single to push the Bucs advantage to 7-0.
Bucs starter Kelsi Collins didn't need any more than that as she dominated the Manatee bats, working through the sixth without allowing a run before FSW plated two more on a shot by Pallas Potter to make it a 9-0 game.
Collins finished the Manatees off in the seventh, preserving her shutout and leading the Bucs to a 9-0 win to sweep the doubleheader.
The Bucs outhit the Manatees 11-4 in the contest, led by Bowers who accounted for five runs with three runs scored and two RBI's in three at bats. Woods and Potter each finished with two RBI's and Corbin and Johnson each had two hits and scored twice. Collins was spectacular on the rubber, spinning her fifth shutout of the year, allowing just four hits while striking out five to improve to 18-0 on the season.
#1 FSW/STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA GAME TWO BOX SCORE
FSW takes back over in the driver's seat in the Suncoast Conference standings. The Bucs improve to 39-1 overall and 6-1 in league play with the wins while State College of Florida falls to 29-11 overall and 4-2 in conference action.
The Bucs will play at home twice next week when they host South Florida State on Tuesday at City of Palms Park in a 5 PM first pitch followed by a makeup game against Polk State on Thursday at 3 PM.