March 14, 2022
Defensive Woes Cost Bucs in Gulf Coast Sweep
The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers committed nine errors and has just six hits in a doubleheader against the #17 Gulf Coast State Commodores Monday afternoon in Panama City, falling 7-1 and 8-0 for their first doubleheader sweep in over six years.
PANAMA CITY, Fla.- The #1 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers committed nine errors and has just six hits in a doubleheader against the #17 Gulf Coast State Commodores Monday afternoon in Panama City, falling 7-1 and 8-0 for their first doubleheader sweep in over six years.
The Bucs had a chance to take a quick lead in game one as they put runners on the corners with two outs in the 1st, but they were gunned down at the plate on a double steal attempt to end the frame scoreless.
FSW's troubles started in the 2nd when back to back errors on the infield led to a pair of Gulf Coast runs and a two out single made it 3-0 before Shenita Tucker threw out a runner at the plate to end the inning and avert further damage.
The Commodores added to their lead with three more in the 3rd to make it 6-0 and used an FSW error and a passed ball in the 5th to plate another to make it 7-0.
A leadoff double by Laura Vigna in the 6th led to the Bucs first and only run of the day, but it was too little too late as Gulf Coast finished off a 7-1 win to take the first game of the doubleheader.
The Bucs managed just two hits in the loss and committed three errors, leading to five unearned runs for Gulf Coast. Baylee Haggard took her first loss as a Buc, allowing six runs, just two earned, on five hits in 2 1/3 innings to fall to 12-1 on the year.
Game two wasn't any prettier for the Purple and Aqua as the Commodores again jumped out to an early lead thanks to some shaky Buccaneer defense as FSW committed three errors in the bottom of the 1st to allow Gulf Coast to score a pair of runs to jump ahead 2-0 early.
The Bucs had their best scoring chance of the day in the 2nd as they loaded the bases with one out, looking to get back into the game, but they couldn't get it past the pitcher in their next two at bats as a fly out on the infield followed by a groundout to the Commodore pitcher ended the threat and the inning with the score still 2-0 Gulf Coast.
Gulf Coast carried their defensive momentum right over to the offensive side in the bottom of the frame as they scored three more times to up their lead to 5-0 after two.
The Bucs never threatened again and Gulf Coast put up three runs in the 5th to kick in the run rule, in turn walking the Bucs off with an 8-0 victory in five. It marked the first shutout loss for FSW in 161 games, dating back to May of 2018.
FSW had just four hits in the game, two coming off the bat of Chelsea Brown who was the lone right spot for the Bucs on the day. Belle Sardja took the loss in the circle, allowing five runs, two earned, in two innings to fall to 5-2 on the year.
The Bucs are swept in a doubleheader for the first time in over six years, falling to 23-4 on the year while Gulf Coast State has now won 12 in a row, improving to 29-5 on the year.
Things won't get any easier for FSW on Tuesday as they make the trip down from Panama City to Ocala to take on Central Florida who themselves have 25 wins on the season and sit just outside the NJCAA Top 20 this week.