Bucs Cough Up Late Lead in Regional Opener
After jumping out to an early 6-0 lead, the #17 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers watched as the Miami Dade Sharks scored seven unanswered runs, including four in the 8th inning, to stun the Bucs 7-6 in the opening game of the Miami Regional Friday night.
MIAMI, Fla.- After jumping out to an early 6-0 lead, the #17 Florida SouthWestern Buccaneers watched as the Miami Dade Sharks scored seven unanswered runs, including four in the 8th inning, to stun the Bucs 7-6 in the opening game of the Miami Regional Friday night.
The Bucs came out swinging early on as Keenan Jabeth launched a three run home run on the first pitch he saw in the 2nd inning and Evan Taveras left the yard behind him to quickly put FSW in front 4-0. They weren't done yet in the 2nd though as four straight hits including RBI singles from Bishop Quarles and Jonah St. Antoine to open the lead to 6-0 after an inning and a half.
The Sharks hit a home run of their own, a two run shot in the bottom of the inning to get on the board for the first time and cut the Bucs lead to 6-2.
Bucs starter Cole Greer buckled down from there, posting three straight zeros through the middle innings, but the FSW offense was stymied by the Sharks bullpen as well as it remained a 6-2 game through five.
The Bucs went to the bullpen in the 6th and the Sharks picked up another tally to cut the FSW lead to 6-3. They loaded the bases later in the inning to put the tying runs on base, but back to back outstanding defensive plays by Tyler June and Robbie Demetree on the corners ended the inning for the Bucs and kept it a 6-3 game as the teams went to the 7th.
The Bucs offense continued to sputter as a double play ended the top of the 7th with the minimum coming to the plate, but Elijah Coston came in out of the FSW bullpen and worked a quick 11 pitch 1-2-3 bottom of the frame to hold the lead for the Purple and Aqua.
It was another goose egg for the Bucs in the 8th and it finally caught up with them in the bottom of the inning. Three straight singles for Miami Dade to begin the inning loaded the bases with nobody out and a walk forced a run home to make it 6-4. The Bucs cut down a runner at the plate on a ground ball for the first out of the inning and a groundout to third recorded the second out with a run scoring for the Sharks to make it a one run game at 6-5. With two outs and two strikes, the Sharks came through with a clutch two run single back up the box to take their first lead of the game at 7-6.
The Bucs had a glimmer of hope in the top of the 9th as Andy Perez led off the inning with a single to left but back to back looking strikeouts followed by a fly out to center left him stranded at first as the game came to an end with Miami Dade stunning the Bucs 7-6.
Hits were even at 10 apiece with Jabeth leading the way for FSW, going 2-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Greer went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs, leaving with a lead but didn't factor into the decision. Coston took the loss on the mound to fall to 1-1 on the year, allowing four runs on three hits in the 8th after a perfect 7th.
The Bucs drop their third straight to the Sharks, falling to 33-16 on the year while Miami Dade improves to 33-17.
FSW will take the field again Saturday with their season on the line as they try to extend the regional to a third game while Miami Dade tries to punch their ticket to Tampa when the teams collide at 7 PM in game two.