FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers came out of the gates ready to go Saturday afternoon at City of Palms Park in downtown Fort Myers as they jumped on visiting Central Florida 7-0 after just one inning of action, but the Patriots roared back, scoring 11 unanswered runs to win the game 11-7, handing the Bucs their first loss of 2021.  In the defeat, FSW infielder Warnner Rincones became the Bucs all-time stolen base leader with a trio of swipes to give him 45 in his career.  

 

The Bucs couldn't have gotten off to a much better start, rolling through a 1-2-3 top half of the 1st and putting up seven first inning runs to jump out to a 7-0 lead.  It was a little at a time for the Bucs in the inning as they batted around and scored the seven runs without an extra base hit.  Warnner Rincones had two hits and a stolen base in the inning, his stolen base giving him the Bucs all-time career record with 42 bags.  

 

Central Florida struck back in the 2nd, but they did it differently than the Bucs, getting a grand slam with two outs in their half of the frame to quickly take a chunk out of the FSW lead. 

 

A solo home run in the 3rd for the Patriots made it a 7-5 game and four more in the 4th for Central Florida gave them their first lead of the ballgame at 9-7. 

 

The Bucs bats remained silent until the 7th when they mounted a two out rally to load the bases and put the tying run in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the threat and kept the Patriots up by a pair.  

 

 Central Florida added a pair of insurance runs in the 8th against the FSW bullpen to stretch their lead to 11-7.  

 

For the second straight inning, the Bucs loaded the bases with two outs in the 8th, and for the second straight inning, they were unable to do anything with it as a popout in foul territory ended the inning and a 1-2-3 9th sealed their fate as the Patriots went on to win it 11-7. 

 

The Bucs had nine hits in the game, all singles, including three from Rincones who finished 3-4 with an RBI, a run scored, and three RBIs.  Axel Melendez was 2-4 and also had an RBI, a run cored, and three bags.  Alex Ayala took the loss for the Bucs on the mound, allowing four runs on three hits in his collegiate debut.  Ronaldo Fernandez pitched well out of the Bucs bullpen, going three scoreless innings with three strikeouts.  

 

It is the first loss of the year for FSW who falls to 2-1 on the early season while #18 Central Florida improves to 2-0. 

 

The Bucs are back in action on Sunday at City of Palms Park where they will take on Pasco-Hernando in a game set for a 1 PM first pitch.