FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got out to a good start Thursday night at City of Palms Park, but had a meltdown in the middle innings, allowing seven runs in the 5th and 6th frames to fall 9-5 in the first of a three game series with the #18 Miami Dade Sharks.
The Bucs took an early lead in the bottom of the 1st when the birthday boy Jose Marcano doubled to the gap in right center to drive home Tommy Joseph to put FSW on top 1-0.
Miami Dade evened the score in the top of the 2nd with a run on three hits to make it 1-1, but the Bucs came out swinging again in the bottom of the frame, getting an RBI single from Daniel Maldonado and another run on a double steal to retake the lead 3-1.
The Sharks got a run back with a two out single in the 3rd to make it 3-2 and it remained that way to the 5th.
Miami Dade took their first lead of the night in the top of the 5th, scoring four runs on four hits and using a pair of defensive miscues from the Bucs to push in front 6-3.
Back to back singles from Maldonado and Connor Bagnieski got the Bucs rolling in the 5th and a sacrifice fly from Warnner Rincones brought a run home to cut the Shark lead to 6-4.
The Sharks broke things open in the 6th with three more, stretching their lead to 9-4.
Both teams went down in order in their next at bats to send the game to stretch time with the score still 9-4 in favor of Miami Dade.
Robert Wegielnik gave the Bucs a chance, putting zeroes on the board in each of the final three innings, but FSW couldn't get anything going on the offensive end as they managed just one run in the final four frames to fall 9-5.
Miami Dade outhit the Bucs 14-8 in the win and FSW committed the games only error. Marcano and Maldonado had two hits and an RBI each for the Bucs. Daniel Vos took the loss on the mound, recording just one out while allowing three hits and three runs. Wegielnik tossed 3 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run out of the FSW bullpen.
FSW falls to 12-7 on the year with the loss while the 18th ranked Sharks improve to 14-3.
The same two teams will square off again on Friday in Kendall in a 2 PM first pitch, the series wraps up Saturday back at City of Palms Park in a 1 PM start.