Posted: May 24, 2023
OXFORD, Ala.- The #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers pulled out a pair of thrilling victories Wednesday on the opening day of the 2023 NJCAA Division I Softball World Series, scoring five of their seven runs in the 5th inning or later to pull out 5-2 and 2-1 come from behind wins over Gaston and #10 Seminole State to advance to the tournament's winner's bracket semifinals on Thursday.
In their first game of the day, the Bucs squared off against the Rhinos of Gaston College, a bit of an unknown in Oxford as the Rhinos found themselves in the World Series for the first time, the same as FSW did just six years ago, in just their second season of existence.
Gaston was the first to crack the scoreboard as they pushed across a 2nd inning run on a leadoff and then a two out single to take an early 1-0 lead on the Bucs.
FSW responded in the bottom half of the frame as Feline Poot ripped a leadoff double down the left field line to get them going and two batters later Caroline Figueroa unloaded on a 1-1 pitch deep and out to left center to put the Bucs in front with one swing of the bat 2-1.
Gaston quickly tied things back up, scoring for the second straight inning on a pair of singles and a double to right, but Bucs starter Belle Sardja worked out of further damage, leaving two runners in scoring position at inning's end to keep it a 2-2 game.
The Bucs looked like they were going to take the lead right back as they puut two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the 3rd for the heart of their order, but the Rhinos wiggled out of the jam to keep it 2-2 into the 4th.
A couple of stellar defensive plays by the Bucs in the top of the 5th kept the Rhinos off the board and their offense took advantage in the bottom half of the inning as Carys Platt used her speed to leg out an infield single to lead off the inning before later coming around to score on a sacrifice fly that didn't leave the infield dirt to put FSW in front 3-2.
The Bucs added some much needed insurance in the 6th as Shenita Tucker and Platt came up clutch with back to back two out RBI singles to cushion the lead to 5-2 as the teams moved onto the 7th.
Gaston brought the tying run into the on deck circle in the 7th, but Lea Chevrier would have nothing more as the freshman ended the game in style with a strikeout to close out a 5-2 win for FSW.
FSW outhit the Rhinos 12-9 in the win with Platt leading the way with her first career four hit game, going a perfect 4-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Figueroa went 2-3 with her fifth home run of the season and a pair of RBIs in the victory. Sardja earned the win, going five innings, scattering eight hits and allowing just two runs to improve to 23-2 on the year. Chevrier earned her sixth save of the season with two shutout frames to close things out.
Because day one of the tournament was mostly rained out on Tuesday, despite winning, the Bucs had to come back and play a second game on Wednesday, this time, opposing #10 Seminole State from Oklahoma in the nightcap of their split doubleheader.
The Trojans came out swinging, getting a bloop single to get things going and a bunt single to put two on with nobody out to start the game. An error on the infield by FSW loaded the bases with one out and a sacrifice fly gave Seminole an early 1-0 advantage.
The Bucs couldn't find any offense early on, but their defense kept them in it as Laura Vigna made a highlight reel play in left to end the Seminole 2nd and Feline Poot and Carys Platt turned a tailor made double play in the 3rd to escape trouble to keep it a 1-0 game into the 4th.
In the 4th, it was FSW pitcher Kylee Graham getting some help from her battery mate Sietske Drijvers who gunned down a runner at second trying to steal to end the inning and keep it a 1-0 game.
The Bucs finally got something cooking in the 5th as they put two on with one out, but a line drive found a Trojan glove and turned into a double play to end the threat and the inning as Seminole continued to cling to a 1-0 lead into the 6th.
FSW reliever Lea Chevrier worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the 6th to keep the Bucs within striking distance and finally they were able to take advantage in the bottom of the frame.
Tucker started the FSW half of the inning with a double down the left field line and moved to third on an infield single from Sydney McCray. McCray took second uncontested and then both runners scored on a wild pitch to put the Bucs up 2-1 in the bat of an eye.
That was all that Chevrier needed as the Bucs hurler set the Trojans down in order for the second straight inning, picking up back to back strikeouts to close out the game and give FSW a come from behind 2-1 win.
McCray was the lone Buc to have more than one hit in the game, going 2-3 with a run scored while Poot was 1-2 and walked to reach base twice. Sardja and Graham each tossed two innings without allowing an earned run before handing the ball to Chevrier who went the final three innings without allowing a hit and striking out four to earn the win to improve to 13-2 on the year.
The Bucs run their season record to 51-5 with the victories and advance to the winner's bracket semifinals where it will be a 2021 NJCAA National Championship Game rematch with #5 Grayson at 1:00 PM Eastern Time on Thursday.
