Posted: Feb 11, 2022
PALATKA, Fla.- In their first 10 games of the season, the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers committed just seven errors as a team, going a perfect 10-0 in those contests. Friday night in their 11th game of the year, they committed nearly the same amount, racking up six blunders on the defensive end, ultimately costing them their first loss of the season in a 7-6 defeat to the Gulf Coast State Commodores in their first of four games in Palatka this weekend.
The teams traded 1st inning runs as Gulf Coast played a little Bucs ball with a leadoff single and a couple stolen bases before a groundout put them on the board and FSW got their run on a to out RBI double from Hunter Fitz-Gerald to make it 1-1 after one.
The Bucs took their first lead of the game in the 4th, utilizing Bucs ball to perfection, taking advantage of a pair of walks, three stolen bases, and a Gulf Coast error to score twice and take a 3-1 lead.
Bucs starter Nicholas Regalado cruised through the 5th, striking out the side and the Bucs added one to their lead on a sacrifice fly from Satchell Norman to make it 4-1.
The Bucs defensive woes began in the 6th as after two quick outs a walk and a comebacker to the mound was mishandled putting runners on second and third with no outs before a wild pitch allowed a run to score to make it 4-2. The damage looked to be minimized with a ground ball on the infield, but the Bucs third error of the inning on the play at first allowed the frame to continue and ultimately for the Commodores to tie the game up at 4 with their third unearned run of the inning.
FSW retook the lead in the bottom of the 6th when Kendry Noriega ripped a two out RBI double to the gap in right center to make it 5-4 and they padded their lead in the 7th when Norman cracked his first collegiate home run to make it 6-4.
A clean 8th for both sides sent the game to the final inning with the Bucs continuing to lead it 6-4.
Another key error by the Bucs in the 9th allowed Gulf Coast to get something going and the Commodores took advantage with a two run double after the FSW miscue tie the game at 6. Still, the Bucs looked like they would have a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the 9th, but a fly ball to right field was mishandled by the FSW outfield and allowed another Gulf Coast run to score to give the Commodores an 8-7 lead.
The Bucs put the tying run on in the 9th, but couldn't move him past first as they fell for the first time on the 2022 season 8-7.
FSW had as many errors as hits in the game with six, leading to four unearned runs for Gulf Coast. Norman and Noriega each had two hits and two RBIs for the Bucs, Norman with his first collegiate homer and Noriega with a pair of doubles. Regalado went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out six, but didn't figure in the decision. Ronaldo Fernandez was collared with the loss, yielding three runs, two earned, in 2 2/3 out of the FSW pen.
FSW suffers their first loss of the year to fall to 10-1 while Gulf Coast picks up their best win of the young season to improve to 3-6.
The Bucs won't have much time to lick their wounds as they will be right back at it Saturday with a pair of games, taking on Pensacola State at 10 AM before battling East Georgia State at 1 PM.