WINTER HAVEN, FLA.- Not much went right for the #11 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers Wednesday night at Bing Tyus Field in Winter Haven as they managed just four hits in a 5-1 loss to Polk State to even the three game series at a game apiece.
Things got off to an inauspicious start for the Bucs as Polk State ripped three straight one out run scoring singles in the first to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
The Bucs got their lone run of the game in the fourth when Victor Florentino came through with a two out RBI single to make it a 3-1 game, but that was all FSW could muster, going without a single hit from the 5th to the 7th innings as they remained down 3-1.
Polk added to their lead with a run in the seventh and then an insurance run in the eighth, but it wasn't needed as the Bucs went down quietly in the ninth to fall 5-1.
The Eagles outhit the Bucs 8-4 in the contest and FSW pitching walked six Polk hitters to just three free passes for FSW in the loss. Florentino reached base three time on the night for FSW, going 1 for 2 with their lone RBI as well as drawing a pair of walks. Rafael Santos suffered the loss, allowing three runs, all in the first, on five hits in 3 2/3 innings to fall to 3-3 on the year. Mason Adams went 4 1/3 out of the Bucs bullpen striking out seven to keep them in the game.
FSW falls to 27-8 overall and 9-5 in Suncoast Conference play while Polk State improves to 15-19 overall and 5-9 in league action.
The two teams will play the rubber game of the series Friday at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers in a 5 PM first pitch.