Bucs Fall at No. 20 Gulf Coast State

PANAMA CITY, Fla. – A late inning rally fell short as No. 14 Shelton State dopped a 4-2 decision at No. 20 Gulf Coast State on Thursday afternoon at Frazier Field.

Shelton State (5-4) pushed two runs across in the ninth inning but stranded 10 base runners on the day in the loss to the Commodores. The Bucs stranded a runner on base in seven of the nine innings, including multiple runner three times.

Trailing 4-0 entering the ninth inning, the Bucs plated two runs before the rally ended. Freshman left fielder Jarret Scott led off the inning with single to center. After a pair of strikeouts, freshman shortstop Griffin Rardin singled on a line drive to left sending Scott to third base. After Rardin stole second base, Scott came home on a wild pitch by Pierce Juhan.  On the next pitch, Rardin scored on a balk by Juhan. A strikeout ended the game.

The Bucs loaded the bases in the second inning but did not score. Sophomore first baseman James Graphos drew a leadoff walk and sophomore third baseman Slade Sullivan followed with a base hit. Sophomore right fielder John Robicheaux laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.  Freshman left Colby Sommer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman catcher Drew Ollis struck out and sophomore second baseman Landon Ingram lined out to end the threat.

Guld Coast State (7-10) put two runs on the board in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Rayce Griffith walked and Andrew  Johnson was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base with one out.  Sam Brown followed with an RBI single to center and Johnson took third on a misplay by freshman centerfielder Owen Anchors. After another walk, Davia Avera reached on a fielder's choice to send Johnson home.

The Bucs next best chance to tie the game came in the seventh and eighth innings but left two runners on base in both frames.

The Commodores stretched the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Avera and Gavin Howard had RBI singles in the frame.

R Marcum (2-0) tossed five scoreless inning for the win. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four.

Sophomore right hander Gunner Dodd (0-1), who allowed two runs in three innings, took the loss.

Sophomores Will Harrison (4 IP, 1 H, 3 K) and Peyton Zupancic (1 IP, 2 H, 1 K) both allowed one earned run.

The Bucs continue the Florida road trip with a 2 p.m. game against Snead State on Friday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m.