AVON PARK, FLA.- The #9 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers have had a flair for the dramatic this season and that trend continued on Monday night in Avon Park as they rallied from 7-3 down in the 8th winning to stun South Florida State 9-7 to clinch the series win over the Panthers and improve to 23-3 on the year.
Things started off well for the Bucs who got a solo home run from Jose Marcano in the second to give them an early 1-0 lead.
South Florida State matched that with a longball of their own to begin the third, knotting the score at 1 after three complete.
The Bucs retook the lead in the fourth when sac fly specialist Tommy Joseph lifted his third in the past two games to give FSW a 2-1 advantage.
The Panthers put up the games' first crooked number in the bottom half of the frame though, using three hits to score three runs and take a 4-2 lead of their own.
A pair of walks and two passed balls allowed the Bucs to plate a run in the fifth without a hit to cut the South Florida lead to 4-3, but an FSW error and a two out single pushed two more across for the Panthers to stretch their lead to 6-3 midway through.
FSW looked like they were in big trouble heading to the eighth as another solo home run for the Panthers cushioned their lead to 7-3 after seven complete.
In typical fashion, the Bucs began their comeback with a walk and a hit batter in the eighth to put two on with one out. After an infield single loaded the bases, a walk forced a run home and made it a 7-4 game. After a fly out failed to move any of the runners, another walk brought home the Bucs second run of the inning and on an 0-2 pitch Warner Rincones came up with the swing of the game for FSW with a bases clearing double to put them back ahead 8-7. A South Florida error later in the inning allowed Rincones to score and after 7 ½ it was 9-7 Buccaneers.
A strike em out, throw em out double play got the Bucs out of a jam in the eighth and Joey Mugavero punched out a pair in the ninth to seal a 9-7 win for FSW to clinch the series.
As has become customary, the Bucs were outhit 12-7 by the Panthers, but again capitalized on drawing eight walks and three hit batters while the FSW pitching staff yielded just one free pass on the night. Rincones led the offense, going 3 for 4 with three RBI's in the win while Marcano reached base four times with two hits and two walks on the night. Connor Bagnieski put up one of the more interesting five plate appearance line you will see, finishing officially 0 for 0 with two runs scored and an RBI, walking three times and getting hit by two pitches. Nate Madej earned the win out of the FSW bullpen, going 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run to improve to 1-0 on the year. Mugavero notched his first save of the year, going the final 1 2/3 innings, striking out three for FSW.
The Bucs win gives the Bucs their second straight Suncoast Conference series victory as they improve to 23-3 overall and 5-0 in league play with the victory. South Florida State drops to the bottom of the conference standings, falling to 10-17 overall and 1-4 in Suncoast action.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Wednesday at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers when they do battle in a 6 PM first pitch.