Posted: May 22, 2024
OXFORD, Ala.- The #3 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers remained alive at the NJCAA World Series in Alabama on Wendesday morning, blowing out #16 Chattanooga State 10-2 in their second straight elimination bracket run rule game.
The Bucs got the scoring going in the 2nd as Sietske Drijvers ripped a two run single back up the middle to put FSW in front 2-0 before Kmari Williams launched a double off the left center field wall to bring her home and make it 3-0. The Bucs continued their two out rally with an RBI single from D'Yani McKinley and McKinley scored later in the inning on a Tiger error to give the Bucs a 5-0 lead after an inning and a half.
Chattanooga State got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but Drijvers ended it at that, gunning down a runner at second to bring the inning to a close with the Bucs in front 5-2.
FSW added onto their lead in the 4th as Drijvers doubled just inside the third base line and McKinley drove her in with an infield single to make it 6-2. Later in the frame Skylar Brennan hit a rocket back up the middle to plate another run to stretch the Bucs lead to 7-2.
Bucs starter Esmee Ames kept it right there, firing her second straight 1-2-3 frame in the 4th to keep it a 7-2 game as the teams went to the 5th.
After two quick outs in the FSW 5th, the Bucs found some magic as Katey McGee singled and Drijvers walked to set the table for pinch hitter Jenna Teakert who tripled into the right field corner to score both and make it a 9-2 game. Later in the inning McKinley picked up her third hit of the contest to cushion the Bucs lead to 10-2.
The Tigers tried to make some noise in the 5th, getting back to back one out singles, but Ames finished them off by retiring the final two hitters she faced to close things out and give the Bucs a 10-2 run rule win in five.
McKinley finished 3-4 with her first career three RBI game at the top of the lineup while Drijvers was 2-2 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored to lead the FSW offense. Ames went the distance in the circle, allowing just five hits and two runs, one earned, while striking out eight to earn the win and improve to 21-5 on the year.
FSW improves to 56-9 on the year with the victory while Chattanooga State sees their season come to an end at the hands of the Bucs for the second time in three seasons at 45-13.
The Bucs advance in the elimination bracket where they will take on the loser of the Northwest Florida/Wallace State matchup Wednesday night at 8 PM (ET).