AVON PARK, FLA.- Things didn't start so well Friday afternoon for the #10 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers, but they finished a little bit better as the Bucs fell behind 4-0 after two innings against South Florida State before roaring back for 16 runs in the final five innings of a 16-5 run rule win over the Panthers to stop their first three game losing streak of the year.
It was a rough start for the Bucs as FSW committed two errors before they recorded their first out of the game, gifting South Florida a first inning run to give the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
FSW loaded the bases in the top of the second, but looking like a repeat of Wednesday's extra innings loss to State College of Florida, the Bucs couldn't come through with the big hit, popping out to end the inning and leave the runners stranded.
Four straight singles by South Florida in the bottom of the second netted the Panthers three more runs and chased FSW starter Jesse Ferreira from the contest with the score 4-0.
The Bucs started their comeback in the third as Tommy Joseph collected a one out RBI single to plate one and he later scored on South Florida's second error of the inning to cut the lead in half at 4-2. Later in the inning Josh McAllister ripped an RBI double and just like that the Bucs were back in it at 4-3.
After two quick outs to begin the FSW fourth, the Bucs got things going again. A hit batter and a walk put a pair of ducks on the pond for Joseph and he came through again with an RBI single to knot the game up at 4. FSW took their first lead of the game later in the inning on a perfectly executed double steal to score a run and put them in front 5-4.
The Bucs gave a run back in the bottom of the fourth on an error in the outfield, but they used a South Florida error in their next at bats in the top of the fifth to get an unearned run of their own to retake a 6-5 advantage.
FSW blew things open in the top of the sixth as Joseph picked up his third RBI single of the game to make it a 7-5 game and then Warner Rincones launched a two run triple to right to score two more to make it 9-5. Rincones then scored on a dropped third straight to give FSW four runs in the inning and a 10-5 lead after six.
After another hit batter and two walks loaded the bases for FSW in the seventh with one out, Rincones came up big again, smacking a two run single to left to push the lead to seven at 12-5. Later in the inning a bases loaded bean ball forced home FSW's third run of the inning and a walk behind that pushed another home to make it 14-5 Bucs. The final blow came with two outs when Ralph Morla smoked a 3-1 pitch past the infield to score two more, cushioning the FSW lead to 16-5 at stretch time.
South Florida threatened to keep the game going in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs, but the Bucs shut down the rally and hence the game, winning a 16-5 run rule contest after seven.
The Bucs banged out 12 hits in the win and took advantage of 14 free passes from South Florida pitching. Joseph led the way for the FSW offense, going a perfect 4 for 4 with three RBI's while Rincones drove home four and McAllister collected three hits including a pair of doubles. Nate Madej earned the win out of the Buccaneer bullpen, going four strong innings, allowing three hits and one run to improve to 2-0 on the year.
The Bucs snap their first three game losing streak of the year to improve to 30-11 overall and 11-8 in Suncoast Conference play while South Florida State falls to 15-28 overall and 4-15 in league play.
The same two teams will meet at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers on Saturday afternoon, first pitch is scheduled at 1 PM.