WINTER HAVEN, FLA.- The top ranked Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers continued their winning ways on Tuesday, putting it on Polk State 13-0 in game one of their doubleheader before seeing game two suspended due to rain with the Bucs leading 9-3.
The Bucs jumped in front right away in game one as Rebeca Laudino reached on a bunt single to begin the game, stole second two pitches later, and scored on a single from Lindsey Corbin to give FSW a 1-0 lead before the chalk settled on the foul lines.
FSW blew the game open in the second as Laudino and Corbin were hit by pitches in back to back at bats with the bases loaded to push the lead to 3-0 and an RBI single from Owen Bowers moments later stretched the lead to 5-0. They didn't stop there as with two outs in the inning Natavia Ellis launched her seventh home run of the season, a three run shot, to open it up to an 8-0 lead. The Bucs tacked on another run later in the inning on an RBI double from Pallas Potter to give FSW a 9-0 lead after two.
A two run shot from Bowers in the third made it 11-0 and the Bucs added single tallies in the fourth and fifth to put the game away, eventually winning a 13-0 run rule decision after five.
The Bucs pounded out 14 hits in the five inning contest, led by Bowers and Ellis who each had a pair of hits, including a home run, and three RBI's in the win. Corbin and Alison Yawn also recorded two hits and two runs apiece for FSW. Despite being overshadowed by the offense, Kelsi Collins and Haley Ellefson were solid in the circle for the Bucs, Collins going three innings and allowing just one hit and Ellefson closing things out with two innings of one hit ball. Collins improves to 21-0 on the year with the win.
#1 FSW/POLK STATE GAME ONE BOX SCORE
The Bucs were well on their way to doing the same thing in game two as all nine starters already had a hit by the top of the second inning with FSW leading 9-3 and the bases still loaded, but the skies decided to unleash on the two teams, ultimately forcing the suspension of the contest. The game is penciled in to be continued on April 18th in Winter Haven, but will only be played if it effects the conference standings.
FSW improves to 45-1 overall and 12-1 in Suncoast Conference play with the victory while Polk State drops to 20-24 and 6-9 in league play.
The Bucs now turn their sights to what has turned into a virtual Suncoast Conference Championship date on Thursday when FSW hosts #19 State College of Florida in doubleheader action at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. The Bucs and Manatees will get things underway at 4 PM.