Posted: Apr 05, 2023
FORT MYERS, Fla.- For years, the Indian River State Pioneers have dominated the Southern Conference. Making the move to the league this season, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers made a statement today at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers; there's a new sheriff in town. FSW swept a doubleheader from the Pioneers, winning the opening game 3-2 on a walk off home run from Feline Poot before the Bucs rolled to a 9-0 run rule win in game two to take a commanding three game lead atop the league standings with six games left to go.
It was a top 15 matchup between the Bucs and Pioneers as #1 FSW put their 26 game winning streak on the line against the team right behind them in the conference standings, #14 Indian River.
After a 1-2-3 top of the 1st for FSW starter Belle Sardja, the Bucs offense looked like they were going to give their ace an early lead as they put runners on second and third with just one out, but a fly ball to center wasn't quite deep enough to score the run from third as FSW was thrown out at the plate to end the threat and the inning as the game remained scoreless at the end of one.
The pitcher's dual was on from there as Sardja retired the Pioneers in order in each of the next three frames while Indian River kept the Bucs off the board until the 4th when Sydney McCray walked and stole second before coming home on an RBI single from Laura Vigna to give FSW a 1-0 lead.
It was another quick inning for Sardja and the Bucs in the top of the 5th and they added to their lead in the bottom half of the frame as McCray squeaked a ball inside the left field line just beyond the Pioneer infield to drive home a run and make it a 2-0 game.
After retiring the first 16 hitters she faced, Sardja finally found herself in trouble in the 6th as Indian River put together back to back singles and a two out double to score a pair of runs and knot the score at 2 after six.
A two out FSW error in the 7th left the door open for the Pioneers to try and take their first lead of the game, but Sardja got a groundout back to herself to end the frame to keep it a 2-2 game.
It didn't take the Bucs long to take advantage of a rare walk off opportunity as slugger Feline Poot crushed the second pitch of the bottom of the 7th up and out to dead center field giving FSW a 3-2 winner in the opening game of the doubleheader.
Sardja was outstanding, going the distance yet again to earn the win and improve to 16-1 on the year while allowing just three hits and two runs to a dangerous Pioneer lineup. D'Yani McKinley went 2-2 with a run scored at the bottom of the Bucs order while Shenita Tucker was officially 0-1 but walked twice and stole three bases in the win.
Game two started much like game one did with a quick 1-2-3 top of the 1st from FSW starter Kylee Graham and another zero from the lefty in the second.
The script changed in the bottom of the 2nd as the Bucs loaded the bases with one out before a catcher's interference call allowed one run to score, a sacrifice fly make it 2-0, and a single the other way from McCray extended the lead to 3-0 for FSW. They still weren't done though as Poot drilled an 0-1 pitch deep and out, splashing down in Bucs Cove beyond the left field wall for a three run shot to double the lead to 6-0.
Tucker legged out an infield single for the Bucs to bring home another run in the 3rd to make it 7-0 and they tacked on two more in the 4th for good measure on an RBI single from Caroline Figueroa and an Indian River wild pitch to stretch the lead to 9-0.
The Bucs pitching did the rest from there as Graham cruised through three and Lea Chevrier mowed down the Pioneers in the final two frames as FSW wrapped up a 9-0 run rule win in game two to complete the sweep of Indian River.
Graham and Chevrier combined for a two hit shutout, striking out seven without walking a batter. Graham earned the win, improving to 11-0 on the year. Poot led the offense, driving in three runs and scoring two more in the win.
FSW takes a commanding 3 ½ game lead atop the Southern Conference standings with the sweep as they move to 39-3 overall and 9-0 in league play with the victories. Indian River suffers a big blow to their repeat hopes as they fall to 36-10 overall and 5-3 in conference action.
The Bucs are back in action on Friday when they travel to Bradenton to take on Eastern Florida State and State College of Florida in a pair of inter-region contests.