The College of Central Florida Patriots lost a heartbreaker in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Championship game to Florida Southwestern State College 6-5. There were five lead changes in the game, but the last one belonged to FSW when Mike McAloose hit a 2-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth to give the Bucs the lead for good. Ther win earned FSW their first trip to the JUCO World Series in school history.

The Pats jumped out to an early lead when Dawson Harman connected on his 24^th home run of the season in the top of the first inning. A two out single by McAloose tied the game at 1-1 in the second. CF took advantage of some sloppy fielding by the Bucs and an RBI single by Logan Chapman to take a 3-1 lead. FSW plated three runs in the fourth inning on a wild pitch and a two-out double by Devin Parks. But once again the cardiac Pats fought back to retake the lead 5-4 in the fifth inning on a triple by Marcus Bradshaw and a Harman double. The score would stay there at 5-4 until McAloose connected on his HR in the sixth inning. FSW pitchers Beau Brailey (0.2 IP, H, 0R), Logan O'Leary (1.1 IP, 2H, 0R, K), and Nick Lorenz (1.2 IP, 0H, 0R, 2K) would shutout the Pats over the final 3.2 innings to secure the championship for the Bucs.

 

With the loss the Pats finish the season with a record of 39-18 and as the FCSAA state runner-up. The Bucs improved to 44-15.

 

The following Central Florida players earned FCSAA All-Tournament team honors:

 

SS Logan Chapman

DH Miles Curley

OF Marcus Bradshaw

P Brayden Toro

P Jay Jung