PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (352today.com) — In a back-and-forth battle that featured five lead changes, the College of Central Florida (CF) Patriots saw their season end in heartbreak, falling 6–5 to Florida Southwestern (FSW) State College in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Championship game on Tuesday.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning when FSW’s Mike McAloose launched a two-run homer over the left-field wall, giving the Bucs a 6–5 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The win sends Florida Southwestern to the JUCO World Series for the first time in program history.

Central Florida (39–18) came out swinging as Dawson Harman crushed his 24th home run of the season in the top of the first inning to put the Pats on the board early. McAloose answered in the second with an RBI single to tie it 1–1.

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The Patriots reclaimed a 3–1 lead in the third, capitalizing on a pair of Bucs errors and an RBI single from Logan Chapman. But FSW responded in the fourth with three runs—one on a wild pitch and two more on a clutch double by Devin Parks—to take a 4–3 lead.

In true “Cardiac Pats” fashion, CF stormed back in the fifth. Marcus Bradshaw tripled and came around to score on a Harman double to give CF a 5–4 edge. However, McAloose’s second big hit of the day—his go-ahead homer—would ultimately seal the Pats’ fate.

Bucs relievers Beau Brailey, Logan O’Leary, and Nick Lorenz combined to shut down the CF offense over the final 3.2 innings, sealing the 6–5 victory and the Region 8 crown.

Despite the loss, several Patriots were named to the FCSAA All-Tournament Team:

  • SS Logan Chapman
  • DH Miles Curley
  • OF Marcus Bradshaw
  • P Brayden Toro
  • P Jay Jung

FSW improves to 44–15 and will represent Region 8 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

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