Posted: Mar 30, 2022
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Satchell Norman was a perfect 3-3 with three RBIs and Nicholas Regalado threw three sparkling innings to close things out as the #9 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers got past the St. Petersburg Titans 8-5 Wednesday afternoon at City of Palms Park in Downtown Fort Myers.
FSW starter Alejandro Valiente got the Bucs off to a good start, needing just five pitches to breeze through a 1-2-3 top half of the 1st inning to get the ballgame started.
The Bucs jumped in front right away as Satchell Norman wasted no time in extending his 14 game hitting streak in the bottom of the 1st with a double off the left center field wall before coming around to score on an RBI triple from Hunter Fitz-Gerald to give FSW an early 1-0 lead.
FSW opened things up in the 2nd as Paul Winland doubled home a run to make it 2-0 and a Titan error allowed him to score to push the Buccaneer lead to 3-0. Later in the inning Norman remained red hot with a towering two run home run to left to open up a 5-0 advantage for FSW.
St. Pete cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the 3rd when a pair of RBI doubles brought home three runs and trimmed the Bucs lead to 5-3.
A one out solo home run and an RBI double two batters later drew the Titans even in the 5th before Ben Peterson came on out of the FSW bullpen to put out the fire and keep it a 5-5 game after 4 1/2.
The Bucs retook the lead in the bottom of the inning after Braden Forchic singled to start the frame and later came around to score on Fitz-Gerald's second RBI single of the game to make it 6-5.
FSW cushioned their lead in the 6th as Matthew Corpas hit a deep fly ball into the prevailing wind blowing out to left for a solo shot to make it 7-5 and later in the inning Norman picked up his third hit of the game with an RBI single to left to make it 8-5 Buccaneers.
Nicholas Regalado came in out of the FSW bullpen in the 7th and was electric, striking out a pair in a 1-2-3 frame before working another scoreless frame in the 8th to keep it an 8-5 game.
St. Pete began the 9th with a leadoff triple to make things interesting, but Regalado struck out the side from there, squelching the threat and closing out an 8-5 win for the Bucs.
The Titans actually outhit the Bucs on the afternoon but three St. Pete errors were costly, allowing four unearned runs for FSW in the three run victory.
Norman was the offensive star for the Purple and Aqua, going 3-3 with a single, a double, a home run, and three RBIs to up his team best batting average to .434 on the year. Fitz-Gerald chipped in a pair of hits and two RBIs while Corpas reached base three times with a homer and a pair of walks.
The Bucs bullpen was outstanding as Peterson earned the win, going 1 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 2-1 on the year while Regalado dominated his three innings of work with six strikeouts to close things out and earn his first career save.
FSW moves to 26-12 overall and 13-3 in Suncoast Conference play with the victory while the Titans fall to 14-20 overall and 4-12 in league play.
The Bucs and Titans will be back at it on Friday in Clearwater in game two of the series with first pitch scheduled for 1 PM.
