MARIANNA, Fla.- Matthew Corpas and Christian Lucio homered while Grant Besser gave Florida SouthWestern 2 1/3 solid innings of relief out of the bullpen, but it wasn't enough Friday night in Marianna as #3 Chipola used a pair of early two run innings to down the Bucs 4-3 in the first of a four game set between the two teams. 

 

The Bucs got on the board first, pushing a run across in the top of the 2nd on a fielder's choice to take an early 1-0 lead.  

 

FSW had a golden opportunity to extend upon their lead in the 3rd as they put two on with one out for the middle of their order, but back to back strikeouts ended the threat without a run and it would cost them later on in the contest. 

 

After two quick outs via the strikeout in the Chipola 3rd, the Indians got to FSW starter Carlos Rodriguez for a pair of runs, using a single and a home run to left to turn the tide and give the Indians a 2-1 advantage after three.  

 

The Bucs shot themselves in the foot in the 4th as an error to start the inning and a hit batter put two on with nobody out and two batters later a double cleared the bases and stretched the Indian lead to 4-1.  

 

Grant Besser came out of the Bucs bullpen and kept them in the game, tossing scoreless 5th and 6th innings. 

 

Matthew Corpas hit a solo home run with two outs in the 6th to make it a two run game and Christian Lucio lifted a shot out to right in the 7th to cut the Chipola lead to one, but the Bucs couldn't get the tying run on base and with their tenth strikeout of the night, the game came to a close with the Indians winning it 4-3. 

 

The Bucs managed just four hits in the loss, a season low with the home runs by Corpas and Lucio being the only damage done with the bats.  Besser was solid out of the Bucs pen, going 2 1/3 scoreless frames while striking out four.  Rodriguez takes his first collegiate loss, allowing four hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work to fall to 2-1 on the year.  

 

The loss snaps a six game win streak for the Bucs as they drop to 8-2 on the year.  Chipola continues a hot start to their 2021 campaign as they improve to 7-1.  

 

The same two teams will take the field tomorrow at 12:00 (CST) and are scheduled to play a doubleheader, weather permitting.