Posted: May 08, 2022
LONGWOOD, Fla.- After back to back sluggish offensive performances to open the 2022 FCSAA State Tournament, the #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers took out their frustrations on the St. Petersburg Titans Sunday afternoon at Soldier's Creek Park, unloading on the Titans for nine runs in the 3rd inning in route to a 12-0 run rule win to advance to the South Atlantic District B Semifinal Sunday night against the #11 Pensacola State Pirates.
After being shutout for just the second time this season on Saturday, the Bucs came out swinging on Sunday as Feline Poot launched a solo home run to get the scoring started in the 1st and two batters later Taylor Jensen blooped a single to center to score Caroline Figueroa who doubled off the wall to put FSW on top 2-0 after an inning of play.
The Bucs had some more two out magic in store in the 2nd as Sterre den Duijn extended the inning with a walk and scored when Laura Vigna lined a double the other way into the gap to extend the Bucs lead to 3-0.
FSW starter Baylee Haggard worked her second straight 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd and the Bucs blew the game open in the bottom of the frame.
Jensen got the big inning going with an RBI double off the third base bag and down the line to make it 4-0 and one batter later Charlotte Drijvers lined one up the middle to drive home two to up the lead to 6-0. Back to back walks to Beth Reid and Mackenzie Wittenberg reloaded the bases and a third straight free pass forced a run home and made it 7-0. The Bucs continued to pour it on, scoring five more times, eventually taking a 12-0 lead at the end of three once the dust cleared.
St. Petersburg had their only real scoring chance in the top of the 4th, loading the bases with two outs, but reliever Kylee Graham picked up a big strikeout to end the threat and the frame to keep it a 12-0 game before working a scoreless 5th to finish off the run rule win for FSW.
After being held to just four hits in each of their first two games of the tournament, the Bucs banged out 10 in the win over the Titans. Poot led the way, going 2-2 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs while Jensen and Vigna each added two hits and two RBIs of their own. Haggard earned the win, going three innings and allowing just one hit to improve to 24-2 on the year.
The Bucs improve to 47-5 on the year with the win while St. Petersburg sees their season come to an end at 35-24.
FSW advances to the South Atlantic District B Semifinals Sunday night at 7 where they will take on #11 Pensacola State in their second elimination game of the day.