CLEARWATER, Fla.- The champs have defended their crown. Friday afternoon on the road in Clearwater, the #12 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers knocked off the St. Petersburg Titans by a count of 10-5, in the process,  laying claim to their second straight Suncoast Conference Championship. 

 

Things got off to a bit of a bumpy start for the Bucs, who after a pair of defensive miscues, found themelves down 2-0 after one inning of play.  

 

As they have all year though, they responded.  Simon Baumer singled and Ronny Medina walked with one out before Matthew Corpas drove a ball to the wall in left center for a two run double to even the game up at 2 a piece. 

 

Kendry Noriega put the Bucs ahead for the first time on the afternoon with a solo shot to lead off the 4th.  

 

With one out in the 5th and St. Pete threatening, the Bucs caught the Titans in a run down on the basepaths, but FSW failed to execute the Spring Training like play in their 53rd game of the season and threw the ball away, leading to two runs for St. Pete to give them the lead back at 4-3. 

 

As they have all season, the Bucs answered right back, loading the bases with one out in the 6th and tying the game on a wild pitch before an RBI groundout from Axel Melendez put FSW back in front 5-4 after six. 

 

Robert Wegielnik came out of the Bucs bullpen and gave them a scoreless 6th to allow FSW to extend upon their lead before stretch time. 

 

In the top of the 7th the Bucs pulled off their patented double steal, swiping a run at the plate before Baumer ripped a two run single to right to cushion their lead to 8-4. 

 

A sacrifice fly from Carter Cunningham in the 8th tacked on a run for the Bucs and the teams traded a run after that as FSW finished off the sweep with a 10-5 victory. 

 

The Bucs outhit the Titans 11-6 in the win and they needed it after their defense coughed up an uncharacteristic five errors in the contest.  All nine FSW starters were in on the offense with either a hit, run scored, or RBI. Baumer led the way with a 3-4 effort, driving in a pair and scoring a pair of runs. Corpas finished 2-4 with a double and two RBIs.  Marc Davis earned the win on the mound, going five solid innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out five.  Wegielnik notched his third save of the season with four solid innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out four of his own.  

 

At the completion of their game, the Bucs had yet to clinch the conference crown, but when Hillsborough wrapped up a 2-0 shutout of State College of Florida moments later, it was time to celebrate for FSW as they wrapped up their second straight title.  

 

The Bucs wrap up their second straight Suncoast Conference sweep to pick up their 40th win of the year, improving to 40-13 overall and 21-6 in conference play with three games to go.  St. Petersburg falls to 21-23 overall and 9-18 in conference action. 

 

The Bucs will begin their final regular season series of the year on Saturday at home at City of Palms Park when they host State College of Florida in game one of a three game set. First pitch is set for 1 PM.