February 25, 2022
Defensive Blunders Prove Costly For Bucs in Loss
Through seven innings, everything was going according to plan for the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers as they led the Pasco-Hernando State Bobcats 2-0 in their final non-conference game of the 2022 season. From there thing went South though as the Bucs made three consecutive errors on the mound in the top of the 8th, leading to six Bobcat runs and the deficit proved too much as FSW got three back in the bottom of the frame, but eventually fell 6-5 to snap a three game winning streak.
FORT MYERS, Fla.- Through seven innings, everything was going according to plan for the #15 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers as they led the Pasco-Hernando State Bobcats 2-0 in their final non-conference game of the 2022 season. From there thing went South though as the Bucs made three consecutive errors on the mound in the top of the 8th, leading to six Bobcat runs and the deficit proved too much as FSW got three back in the bottom of the frame, but eventually fell 6-5 to snap a three game winning streak.
It was a pitcher's duel early on between the Bucs Chase Chatman and Pasco's Jermey Goins. The two matched zeros through three until Matthew Corpas broke the scoreless tie with a two out RBI double in the bottom of the 4th to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead.
Chatman worked another 1-2-3 frame in the 5th including a pair of strikeouts to keep it a 1-0 game and Ronaldo Fernandez punched out two more out of the FSW bullpen in the 6th to hold the one run advantage.
In the bottom of the 6th the Bucs doubled their lead as Kendry Noriega launched a solo shot deep and out to left to put FSW on top 2-0.
The game sailed through the 7th with the Bucs still in front 2-0 but that's when things went South for the Purple and Aqua. After back to back singles gave the Bobcats first and second with nobody out in the top of the 8th, a Pasco bunt put the Bucs defense in motion and a throw down the right field line gave the Bobcats their first run of the game and runners on second and third with nobody out. Two pitches later another Pasco bunt created more trouble for the FSW defense as a they were unable to handle the sacrifice attempt leading to the tying run crossing the plate and more traffic on the bases. The Bucs went to the bullpen looking for answers, but unfortunately, all they found was more of the same. The third consecutive bunt for the Bobcats resulted in the third consecutive error for the Bucs defense as another throw down the line allowed two more runs to score and for Pasco to take a 4-2 lead. There were no more bunts for the Bobcats, but the damage still wasn't done as a Pasco double down the left field line plated their fifth run of the inning and they added a sixth later on, opening up a 6-2 advantage at inning's end for the visitors.
The Bucs showed some fight in the bottom half of the frame as Hunter Fitz-Gerald doubled down the first base line and came around to score on a Pasco error to make it 6-3. Later in the inning with two on and two out Jose Izarra came through with a line drive to right center to plate both runners and get FSW back to within one at 6-5.
In the FSW 9th, Fitz-Gerald drew a two out walk to put the tying run on, but a strikeout looking ended the threat and in the process the game as the Bobcats held on to win 6-5.
Each team finished with eight hits in the contest, but the four errors for FSW proved costly, gifting the Bobcats four unearned runs in the defeat. Chatman was solid on the mound, going five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight before giving way to Fernandez who retired all six batters he faced in the 6th and 7th. Izarra and Noriega each collected two hits in the loss, Izarra also driving home a pair while Noriega scored twice for FSW. Alejandro Valiente suffered his first loss of the season on the mound, allowing four runs without getting an out to fall to 1-1 on the year.
The Bucs drop to 11-9 with the loss while Pasco-Hernando improves to 8-9.
FSW will begin defense of their back to back Suncoast Conference Championships on Saturday when they travel to Winter Haven to take on Polk State to open the conference schedule.