Posted: Feb 02, 2025
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Once again it took some late game dramatics for the #4 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers to come away with a victory on Sunday as FSW erased a three run 8th inning deficit and got a walk off single from Ty Hamilton for the second straight day to stun Chattahoochee Valley 7-6 and complete the weekend sweep of the Pirates.
Things got off to a rough start for the Bucs as Chattahoochee Valley got a triple on the first pitch of the game and cashed in the runner two batters later on a passed ball to give the Pirates a quick 1-0 advantage.
The Bucs responded right away as Anthony Ruocco ripped a two out, two run double off the wall in center in the bottom of the 1st to put FSW in front for the first time 2-1 at the end of an action packed 1st inning.
FSW starter Parker Burgess dialed it in in the 2nd, freezing three Chatt Valley hitters to strike out the side and keep the Bucs in front 2-1.
The Bucs gave a run back in the 3rd, hitting a batter and walking two more, including one with the bases loaded to allow the Pirates to knot things up at 2.
FSW took the lead back in the bottom of the 3rd as Carlos Sanchez singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch before Jonah St. Antoine drilled a single the other way to drive him home and put the Bucs back in front 3-2.
The lead only lasted three pitches as a solo home run for the Pirates to lead off the 4th tied things back up and after a pair of strikeouts, three straight infield singles loaded the bases and a four pitch walk brought a run in and put Chatt Valley back in front 4-3.
The Bucs had a chance to answer back in the bottom of the inning as they loaded the bases on a trio of walks, but a strikeout ended the frame and kept the Pirates in front 4-3.
The Bucs had traffic on the bases again in the 5th, but couldn't come through with the big hit as a double play brought the inning to a close and kept Chatt Valley on top 4-3 after five.
The Pirates added to their lead in the 6th as a one out double and a two out home run to left padded their advantage to 6-3.
Josiah Velazquez worked 1-2-3 frames in the 7th and 8th for the Bucs to keep it there and FSW got a run back in the bottom of the 8th to cut the Chatt Valley lead to 6-4.
Logan O'Leary worked a scoreless top of the 9th to give the Bucs a chance in their final at bats and the Bucs bats took advantage.
Sanchez laid down a perfect bunt to begin the bottom of the 9th to bring the tying run to the plate and St. Antoine crushed a ground rule double to center to put the tying runs in scoring position with nobody out in the frame. A strikeout put the Bucs first out on the board, but the Bucs doubles machine Anthony Ruocco came through with his biggest two bagger of the year as he flared a ball down the right field line to bring home two and tie the game at 6. That set up a similar spot for Ty Hamilton, less than 24 hours after the Bucs freshman picked up his first career walk off, and on a nearly identical swing he did it again, smacking a single back up the middle to drive home Ruocco from second and win it for the Bucs 7-6.
The Bucs and Pirates combined for 26 hits in the contest, 14 for FSW and 12 for Chatt Valley. The bulk of the Bucs damage offensively came from three players as Sanchez, St. Antoine, and Ruocco each collected three hits while Sanchez scored three times and Ruocco drove in four with his two doubles. O'Leary earned his first win as a Buc with his scoreless 9th while Velazquez struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings of work through the middle innings to keep the Bucs in the game.
FSW has won five straight to improve to 5-1 on the year while Chatt Valley begins their 2025 campaign with a tough road sweep against the Bucs.
The Bucs finish up a four game homestand on Tuesday when they host Inspiration Academy in a 2 PM first pitch from Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers.
