FORT MYERS, FLA.- The #4 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers haven't had many off days this season. Wednesday they did. The Bucs managed just four hits while committing nearly as many errors defensively in an 11-6 loss to South Florida State, putting an end to their nine game winning streak and dropping them to 23-4 on the year.
Things couldn't have gotten off to much of a worse start for FSW as they committed two errors and misplayed two other balls in the first inning to allow South Florida State to score four times and take a 4-0 lead before the Bucs even got their first shot to hit.
The Panthers pushed another run across in the third to make it a 5-0 game.
FSW got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the third as they executed a patented double steal to cut the lead to 5-1 and later in the inning they took advantage of a South Florid State error to plate another run and trim the lead to 5-2. They had a chance to do more damage, but left the bases loaded at innings end as they remained down by three after three.
After South Florida State scored their sixth run of the game in the fourth, the Bucs again had a chance to put up a crooked number, but for the second straight inning, left the sacks packed and therefore trailed it 6-2 after four.
The knockout blow for South Florida State came in the fifth as they scored three more times to make it a 9-2 game and put things out of reach of the Bucs.
FSW used another two out error by the Panthers to score in the bottom of the fifth, but they left two more runners on at innings end as they remained down big, 9-3.
Derek Rascher kept the Bucs in the game as he came out of the FSW bullpen and struck out the first five hitters he faced.
The Bucs used the momentum to get back into the game after stretch time, getting a bases loaded walk from Josh McAllister, a single from Ralph Morla, and a hit batter to cut the lead in half to 9-6. But for the third time on the night, FSW left the pillows full at the end of the inning, stranding the tying run at first base as their at bats finished.
South Florida State got two runs back in the eighth for insurance and the Bucs left three more runners on in their final two trips to the plate as they fell 11-6 in the series finale.
The Bucs were outhit 12-4 in the game, hanging around only because of drawing 12 walks and five hit batters.
FSW falls to 23-4 overall and 5-1 in Suncoast Conference play with the defeat while South Florida State improves to 11-17 and 2-4 in league play.
The Bucs are back in action on Friday and Saturday when they play a home and home with St. Petersburg. FSW will host the Titans in a 1 PM first pitch on Saturday at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers.