Posted: Feb 16, 2022
MIAMI, Fla.- The #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers lost their third straight game Wednesday afternoon in Miami, giving up five runs in the 4th against #8 Miami Dade in a 6-4 defeat to fall back to .500 on the season at 8-8.
Miami Dade cracked the scoreboard first Wednesday, using a leadoff double to score a 3rd inning run to take an early 1-0 lead on the Bucs.
FSW leveled the score in the 4th when Braden Forchic picked up a leadoff double of his own for the Bucs and came around to score on an RBI single from Satchell Norman to tie the game at 1.
The game didn't remain tied for long as Miami Dade answered right back in the bottom of the frame as six straight hitters reached with two outs in the inning, the big block a bases clearing double to open up a 6-1 lead for the Sharks.
FSW had a chance to get back into the game in the 6th as Ronny Medina drove home a run with an RBI single and the Bucs loaded the bases with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the frame with FSW trailing 6-2.
The Bucs had another golden opportunity in the 8th, once again loading the bases, this time with nobody out to start the frame, but they went 0-4 with the pillows full, getting two runs on a Miami Dade error and a fielder's choice to remain behind 6-4 after 6 1/2.
Brian Holiday kept the Sharks right there on the mound with his third straight scoreless inning in the 8th, but FSW couldn't mount a comeback in their final at bats, going down in order in the 9th to fall 6-4.
The Bucs actually outhit the Sharks 9-7 in the loss with Norman, Medina, and Jose Izarra each picking up two hits and an RBI. Frank Elissalt suffered the loss on the mound, allowing seven hits and five earned runs in five innings worked to fall to 0-1 on the year. Holiday was spectacular out of the FSW bullpen, going three scoreless and striking out five to give the Bucs a chance late.
FSW has now dropped three straight and five of their last six to fall to 8-8 on the year while Miami Dade is building some momentum, improving to 12-3 after a slow start.
The Bucs will look to get back in the win column Friday when they return home to host ASA Miami in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 11 AM at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.