BRADENTON, FLA.- One month ago to the day on the same exact field, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers took a 9-3 extra innings contest from State College of Florida, Monday was the Manatees turn to get revenge, as SCF took it one inning deeper before walking off the Bucs 2-1 to clinch the series win and send FSW out of first place in the Suncoast Conference standings for the first time this season.
For the second straight game, the Manatees cracked the scoreboard first, using a leadoff double in the third and a two out single later on the inning to jump on FSW 1-0.
FSW starter Mitch Myers kept SCF right there, but the Bucs offense, who has scored just four runs in their past 31 offensive innings after Monday, couldn't get anything going as the Purple and Aqua remained down 1-0 after six complete.
The Bucs finally broke through in the seventh as Jose Marcano ripped a triple to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Solomon to tie the score at 1.
SCF had a chance to retake the lead in the eighth, putting two on with two out, but Thomas Haggerty came in out of the FSW bullpen to shut things down and keep it a tie game at 1-1.
The Bucs put the go ahead run on in the top of the ninth, but he was gunned down trying to steal to end the threat.
Haggerty didn't give the Manatees any inkling of a thought that they were going to win it in the ninth, needing just 12 pitches to work a 1-2-3 frame and send the game to extras.
The Bucs threatened in the 10th as Solomon walked to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position with two outs, but FSW's 10th strikeout of the game extinguished the fire and pushed the game to the bottom of the inning still deadlocked.
FSW looked like they were in trouble in the bottom of the inning as SCF put two on with nobody out and the game on the line, but a double play and a strikeout quickly ended that threat and sent the game to the 11th tied at 1.
The 11th didn't provide much drama as both sides went down in order without hitting the ball out of the infield to stretch the contest to the 12th.
The Bucs again went down in order in the 12th as the offensive struggles continued for the Purple and Aqua.
A four pitch leadoff walk to begin the SCF 12th spelled trouble for the Bucs. After a sac bunt to move the runner up 90 feet, a groundout to second pushed the winning run to third with two outs. An intentional walk put runners on the corners and FSW's third walk of the inning loaded the bases for the Manatees. With a 2-1 count and two outs in the bottom of the 12th, SCF walked it off, getting a clean single to right to bring home the winning run to knock off #9 FSW 2-1.
The Bucs managed just seven hits in the 12 inning contest, getting two each from Tommy Joseph and Shamir Morales. It spoiled a solid effort on the mound from five Buccaneer arms. Myers went six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out nine in a no decision. Hagggerty took the loss to fall to 3-2 on the year, yielding a single hit in 3 2/3 innings and punching out five.
The Bucs drop their second straight to fall to 29-10 overall and 10-7 in Suncoast Conference play where they drop out of first place for the first time this season. SCF improves to 27-13 overall and 11-6 in league action to take over the conference lead.
The same two teams will be in action for the sixth and final time this season on Wednesday when the Bucs host the Manatees at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers with first pitch scheduled for 6 PM.