Posted: Apr 07, 2023
MIAMI, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern sophomore slugger Derek Williams set a new program single season record with his 13th home run of the season on Friday, but it wasn't enough as the Buccaneers fell 7-4 to the Miami Dade Sharks to drop their first Southern Conference series of the year.
As they did in the series opener on Wednesday, the Bucs found themselves in an early hole against the Sharks on Friday as Miami Dade plated one in the 1st and three more in the 2nd to take an early 4-0 lead.
The Bucs got back in the game in the 4th as Anthony Westbrook launched a leadoff home run and Derek Williams followed suit behind him to cut the Sharks lead in half at 4-2.
Bucs starter Kelan Hoover worked scoreless 4th and 5th frames to keep it a 4-2 game and the Bucs offense took advantage of the zeros, pushing across a pair of two out runs in the 6th to level the score at 4.
The game didn't remain tied for long though as Miami Dade launched a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the 6th and never looked back.
The Sharks added two more in the 7th and the Bucs couldn't bring the tying run to the plate in their final two trips as Miami Dade finished off a 7-4 win to clinch the series victory.
Eight different Bucs had a hit in the loss, but none managed a multi-hit game. Westbrook finished 1-2 with his 4th inning homer and two runs scored while Williams' 4th inning blast was his 13th of the season, setting a new FSW single season record. Colin Brodeur took the loss out of the Bucs bullpen, allowing five hits and three runs in three innings of work to fall to 4-1 on the year.
The Bucs drop their third straight game for the first time this season as they fall back to 26-16 overall and 8-6 in Southern Conference action where they now hold just a one game lead over Indian River for the second and final playoff spot from the league. Miami Dade moves to 26-11-1 on the year and takes a two game lead atop the conference standings at 10-4.
The Bucs and Sharks will lock up on Saturday at Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers in the series finale with first pitch slated for 2 PM.