FORT MYERS, FLA.- The #8 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers dropped their first series of the year Saturday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, failing to get the big hit to get them over the hump in a 3-1 loss to Hillsborough in Suncoast Conference play.
After a pair of scoreless innings to begin the ballgame, Hillsborough came through with a two out double to score two in the third to give the Hawks an early 2-0 lead.
A leadoff double by Connor Bagnieski in the fourth followed by a single up the middle from Warner Rincones got FSW on the board, cutting the Hawks lead in half at 2-1.
Hillsborough quickly answered in the top of the fifth, getting a leadoff walk and a one out double to plate a run and push their lead back to two at 3-1.
The Bucs put the tying runs on in the seventh on an infield single and a hit batter, but a strikeout ended the threat and the frame, keeping FSW down 3-1 as the teams went to the eighth.
Nate Madej worked a quick 1-2-3 inning for the Bucs in the top of the eighth to give FSW a chance to get even in the bottom half, but a double play after a leadoff single put a halt to that and send the game to the ninth with the score still 3-1 Hillsborough.
Down to their final three outs in the ninth, the Bucs made some noise. Tyler Solomon drew a one out walk and Tommy Joseph and Shamir Morales laced singles to load the bases for FSW. But their momentum was short lived as a strikeout looking and a lazy fly ball to right field brought an end to the rally and the game as the Bucs fell 3-1.
FSW had 10 hits in the loss, but couldn't get the big hit when they needed it, leaving 10 runners on in the defeat. Bagnieski led the Bucs with three hits in four trips to the plate in the loss. Mitch Myers was saddled with the loss on the mound, allowing nine hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings to fall to 5-2 on the year. Madej was solid in relief, going 3 1/3 scoreless with a pair of strikeouts to keep FSW in the game late.
The Bucs drop their first series of the year, falling to 26-7 overall and 8-4 in Suncoast Conference play. Hillsborough improves to 17-15 overall and takes over the top spot in the conference standings at 8-4.
FSW will be back at it on Monday at home when they host Polk State in a 6 PM first pitch.