Baseball | 3/17/2002 5:11:00 PM

Box Score FT. MYERS, Fla. -- After playing four games in 48 hours, fatigue set in as the Buccaneers fell to the #20 Ashland University Eagles 10-5 earlier this afternoon at Terry Park in Ft. Myers.

For most of the game, the Bucs were in control and carried a 5-2 lead into the top of the eighth inning. However, the tables quickly turned as the 20th ranked Eagles scored eight runs in the eighth (five unearned) downing the Bucs 10-5.

Fernando Tapia (4-2) took the loss for the Bucs giving up six runs (five earned) in 7.1 innings on seven Eagle hits. Mark Smithberger (3-0) came in the game in relief to earn the win giving up only three Buccaneer hits.

The Bucs were led by Alex Lorenzo who went three-for-four with a solo homer and a double. Joey Apotheker added a two-for-five performance with an RBI.

Today's loss drops the Bucs to 15-9 overall, while the Eagles improve to 14-2. The Bucs will resume action on Tuesday, Mar. 19 playing Millersville at the Homestead Challenge in Homestead, Fla. at 2:45 pm.