Posted: Mar 05, 2021
WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- Six runs in the middle innings did the #20 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers in Friday night in Winter Haven as the Bucs comeback attempt against the Polk State Eagles came up just short, 6-5 in the two teams conference opening series finale.
It was a good game early on as both the Bucs and the Eagles put traffic on the bases in the first three innings, but couldn't push anything across as the teams went to the 4th scoreless.
The Bucs broke the scoreless tie in the 4th as Abimelec Ortiz ripped a ground ball to right to score a pair of runs and put FSW in front 2-0.
The Eagles quickly answered though, getting a bases loaded triple in the bottom of the inning to clear the pillows and took a two run lead on a ground ball up the middle to make it 4-2.
Polk added to their lead in the 5th, getting a one out single followed by a sacrifice fly to push their advantage to 6-2.
The Bucs kept fighting though, scoring three times in the 6th to get back to within one at 6-5.
Both bullpens dominated from there. The Bucs put the tying run in scoring position in both the 7th and 8th innings, but couldn't get a big hit to drive them in and with a 1-2-3 9th, the Bucs fell 6-5 as Polk salvaged the final game of the series.
Matthew Corpas and Christian Lucio each had 2 hits for the Bucs in the loss. Grant Besser got saddled with the loss on the mound for FSW, pitching into the 4th and allowing 5 hits and 4 runs while striking out 6. to fall to 0-1 on the year. Riley Skeen and Antonio Knowles did their best to give the Bucs a chance for a comeback, combining for 3 2/3 scoreless without allowing a hit and striking out 6 to close out the game.
FSW drops the finale, but wins the series to move to 18-8 on the year. Polk State rebounds to take the last game of the series to improve to 15-11 in 2021.
The Bucs will begin their second Suncoast Conference series on Saturday when they return home to host Hillsborough in a 1 PM start from City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.