FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Barry baseball team (25-19) dropped a 6-5 decision to close out a three-game series against Florida Gulf Coast (34-12) on Sunday afternoon. The Bucs carried a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning, but the Eagles pushed two runs across in the bottom of the frame to earn the win.
The Bucs pulled out to a 3-0 lead in the third off FGCU starter Jason Short.
Cesar Aranguren led off with a base hit and stole second before being driven in by
Fausto Faraldo.
Ricky Sanchez followed with a two-run homer to give the Bucs a three-run advantage. The Bucs added another unearned run in the fifth to go up 4-0.
Florida Gulf Coast tied it up at four apiece in the sixth inning thanks to two hits and three Buccaneer errors. The Bucs regained a 5-4 lead in the seventh inning when Faraldo scored on an infield error after reaching base on a walk. The score remained that way until the ninth as Bucs reliever
Ray Rhoads came on in the seventh to retire the first five Eagles hitters he faced.
The Eagles' Derek Mollica led off the ninth with a single to left and moved to third on a single by pinch hitter Chris Perry. Barry freshman closer
Eric Horstmann came on to strike out pinch hitter Kevin Burns and Shawn Griffin for two quick outs. Junior shortstop Jason Louwsma then lined a single to right field to score Mollica and tie the game at 5-5 before Jason Cooper drove in Perry with the game-winner.
Horstmann (0-2) took the loss for the Bucs after striking out two and walking none in .2 innings of work. Rhoads tossed 1.2 innings, allowing two runs off two hits while striking out one. As the Bucs' starter, Zavitz walked four and struck out five while allowing five hits and four unearned runs in 6.1 innings on the mound.
Sanchez led the Bucs offensively going 4-for-4 with 2 RBI. Aranguren and Faraldo each registered two hits apiece.
The Bucs are back in action on Tuesday, April 19 as they face St. Thomas at 6:30 p.m. on the road.
Florida Gulf Coast 6, Barry 5 (4/17/05 at Fort Meyers, Fla.)
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Barry............... 003 010 100 - 5 11 3 (25-18)
Florida Gulf Coast.. 000 004 002 - 6 9 3 (33-12)
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Pitchers: Barry – Zavitz; Rhoads(7), Horstmann (9). Florida Gulf Coast – Short; Mastin (5), Korson (7), Beall (7)
Win-Beall (2-0) Loss-Horstmann (0-2) T-3:08 A-117
HR BUB - Sanchez (13).
Rhoads faced 2 batters in the 9th.
