FORT MYERS, Fla.- The #4 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers saw their program record tying 13 game winning streak come to an end on Tuesday, dropping a 7-4 contest to the TNXL Academy Ducks to drop to 13-2 on the year. 

 

It was an old fashioned pitcher's duel early on as the Bucs and Ducks matched zeros through the first three innings in a brisk 26 minutes to head to the 4^th scoreless. 

 

FSW starter Brandon Eldridge continued his strong outing, striking out the side in the 4^th and the Bucs picked up their first two hits of the game in the bottom of the inning but left both runners stranded on a strikeout to end the inning and keep it a scoreless game after four. 

 

A solo home run for the Ducks in the 5^th broke the deadlock and put TNXL up 1-0 after a rapid five innings of action. 

 

After two quick outs to start the top of the 7^th TNXL put together a rally, getting a single, a stolen base, and another base hit to push across a run to make it 2-0. A tapper back to the pitcher on the next pitch looked like it would bring the inning to a close but the Ducks had other ideas as the TNXL hitter legged out an infield single to score a run and keep the inning going.  The Ducks made the Bucs pay in a big way for the lapse as one batter later TNXL launched a three run home run into the batting cages in left to open up a 6-0 lead at stretch time. 

 

The Bucs finally broke through against the Ducks in the bottom of the 7^th as Luke Orfi doubled down the right field line to bring home two to make it a 6-2 game. 

 

TNXL got a run back in the top of the 8^th on a solo home run and FSW launched a long ball of their own in the bottom of the frame when Nathan Fink drilled a two run shot out to center to trim the Duck lead to 7-4 as the teams went to the 9th. 

 

Delvison Reyes made his FSW debut in the top of the 9^th and showcased electric stuff, striking out a pair to give the Bucs a chance in their last at bats in the bottom of the 9th. 

 

The Bucs were gifted a pair of baserunners to start the bottom of the 9^th with a walk and an error to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out in the inning. An infield fly brought the Bucs down to two outs to work with and another fly out kept the runners where they were. Down to their final out, there was no magic to be had for the Bucs on this day as the Ducks secured FSW's third straight fly ball to end the inning and the game as TNXL held on for the 7-4 win. 

 

Fink was the lone Buc with multiple hits in the game, going 2-4 with his 8^th inning homer and two RBIs. Eldridge was the tough luck loser on the mound for the Bucs, going five strong innings and allowing just three hits and one run while striking out seven to fall to 1-1 on the year. Eldridge and three Bucs relievers combined to strike out 12 and walk just one in the contest. 

 

The Bucs see their 13 game winning streak come to an end as they drop to 13-2 on the year.  TNXL improves to 2-3 against FCSAA competition this season with the win and has now beat each of the top two teams from the Citrus Conference in FSW and Indian River.  

 

FSW now turns their attention back to a huge Citrus Conference series this weekend when they travel to #22 Indian River on Thursday before welcoming the Pioneers to Buccaneers Park in Fort Myers for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.