Posted: Feb 04, 2024
PANAMA CITY, Fla.- The #16 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers had nobody to blame but themselves for Sunday's 9-5 loss to Region VIII rival Chipola as the Bucs left 10 runners in scoring position and issued 12 free passes on the mound to close the 2024 Visit Panama City Beach College Classic 1-3.
Chipola jumped on the Bucs right away, sending the third pitch of the game out of the park to take a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st. After a pair of hit batters and a single loaded the bases, the Bucs walked the second run of the inning in to give the Indians a 2-0 lead at the end of a half inning of play.
The Bucs leveled the score in the 2nd as Luca Danos walked to lead off the inning and Michael McAloose slammed a 3-1 pick deep and out to left to tie the score up at 2-2.
After two quick outs in the Chipola 3rd, the Bucs fourth hit batter of the game allowed the Indians to extend the inning and they made FSW pay with a double to left to drive the run home and retake a 3-2 lead.
The Bucs answered right back as Justin Thomas doubled to lead off the FSW 3rd and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Nate Earley to even the score at 3. The Bucs loaded the bases up with one out, but missed a golden opportunity to take their first lead of the game as they grounded into a double play to leave the game tied at 3 at the end of three.
Another hit batter by Bucs pitching allowed Chipola to get something going in the 4th and a two out single through the left side cashed the run in to give the Indians the lead back 4-3.
FSW loaded the bases for the second straight inning in their half of the 4th, but like last time it wouldn't lead to a run as a strikeout ended the frame with three Bucs left on the pillows as Chipola clung to a 4-3 lead at the end of four.
The Bucs had traffic once again in the 5th, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but they couldn't come through with the big hit, leaving two more aboard at inning's end with Chipola continuing to lead it 4-3 as the teams went to the 6th.
A leadoff home run for the Indians in the 6th upped the lead to 5-3 before three straight strikeouts from Adam Dowler kept the score right there as the Bucs looked to fight back with six outs to go.
Chipola added some insurance in the 7th with a pair of two run home runs to open their lead to 9-5 and they came in handy later on as FSW pushed two across in the bottom of the frame, but came up short 9-5 with a strikeout to end the contest.
Chipola outhit FSW 11-9 in the game, but that isn't where the difference came. The Bucs left 10 runners on in the contest, all in scoring position, while FSW pitching issued 12 free passes on 9 hit batters and 3 walks. Victor Figueroa, Cooper Clapp, and Salvador Alvarez had 2 hits a piece for the Bucs in the loss while McAloose drove in 3. Josiah Velazquez suffered the loss on the mound, allowing 2 hits and 2 runs in 2 innings pitched for his first decision of the season.
The Bucs fall to 3-5 on the season with the loss while Chipola improves to 5-3.
FSW will look to get back on track at home this week as they host TNXL Academy Thursday at 2 PM before welcoming A3 Academy to Fort Myers for a 1 PM doubleheader on Saturday.