TAMPA, Fla.- The #9 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers couldn't hold a late Friday afternoon on the road at Hillsborough, blowing a 4-2 8th inning advantage to fall 5-4 in the series opener between the two.
It was a pitcher's duel early on as both starters were perfect through two innings of action.
The Bucs cracked the scoreboard first in the top half of the 3rd when Ronny Medina was hit by a pitch with two outs and stole second before scoring on an RBI single from Warnner Rincones to make it 1-0 FSW.
Hillsborough picked up their first hit of the afternoon with a leadoff single in the bottom of the 3rd, but they couldn't do anything with it as FSW continued to lead it 1-0 after three.
The Bucs extended upon their lead in the 4th when Christian Lucio launched his ninth home run of the season over the wall in right and Jared Campbell followed suit with a solo shot of his own to make it 3-0 FSW.
Hillsborough got back in the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the 4th with a four pitch walk and a two run home run to make it 3-2.
FSW played a little Bucs Ball in the 5th to squeeze across a run as Matthew Corpas and Medina singled to start the frame and pulled off a double steal to snatch a run and make it a 4-2 game.
Marc Davis came in out of the Bucs bullpen and locked it down in the 6th and 7th innings, striking out the side in both frames to keep it a 4-2 game into the 8th.
The Bucs bullpen lost the strike zone in the bottom of the 8th, walking four batters, including one with the bases loaded to allow Hillsborough back to within one at 4-3. Moments later a passed ball allowed another run to score to tie the game at 4. With the bases reloaded and two outs in the frame, FSW walked their fifth of the inning, forcing home a run and giving the Hawks their first lead of the contest at 5-4.
FSW loaded the bases with two outs in the 9th but couldn't come through with the big hit, popping out on the infield to end the game as Hillsborough held on for a 5-4 win in the series opener.
The Bucs outhit the Hawks 9-4 in the game, but it was eight free passes from the FSW pitching staff that proved the difference. Corpas finished 2-3 to lead the FSW offense in the loss, Warnner Rincones also added two hits at the top of the lineup. Alejandro Valiente gave FSW five solid innings in a spot start, allowing just two hits and two runs while striking out a season high seven, he didn't factor in the decision. Simon Baumer was tagged with the loss out of the FSW bullpen, falling to 0-1 on the year.
FSW drops back to back conference games for the first time this season as they fall to 33-12 overall and 14-5 in league play. Hillsborough improves to 14-21 and 6-13 in Suncoast action.
The same two teams will be back in action tomorrow at 1 PM at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers with Alex Ayala taking the hill for the Bucs in game two of the series.