FORT MYERS, FLA.- Apparently the #9 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers didn't need a midseason break, as coming off of the conference bye week on Saturday, the Bucs were shutdown by the visiting State College of Florida Manatees, managing just 4 hits in a 6-2 loss to fall to 29-9 on the year.
State College of Florida got the scoring going in the second, loading the bases with nobody out, but managed just a single run on a sacrifice fly as FSW starter Ryan Gusto wiggled out of trouble to minimize the damage and keep it a 1-0 game.
The Bucs didn't get so lucky in the third though as the Manatees broke through with a pair of runs to up their lead to 3-0.
FSW got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third as Drake Dobyanski squeaked one inside the first base bag with two outs, but he was stranded there at innings end to keep it a 3-0 game in favor of SCF.
The Manatees continued their pressure in the fifth, loading the bases once again and getting a two run single to make it a 5-0 game.
SCF scored for the fourth time in six innings in the sixth, using a leadoff single, a stolen base and an FSW throwing error to stretch their lead to 6-0.
The Bucs finally looked like they had something working in the seventh as they put two on with nobody out and had a 3-0 count on the hitter, but that batter struck out three pitches later and two quiet outs later, the inning was over and the Manatee shutout was still intact.
After a pair of scoreless innings out of the bullpen by Nate Madej, FSW managed their only offense of the game in the bottom of the ninth as Victor Florentino and Jose Marcano launched back to back solo home runs, but that was all they would get, falling 6-2 in the series opener.
Two of the Bucs four hits came in the ninth via the longballs by Florentino and Marcano. Florentino was the lone Buc to have a successful day on the offensive end, going 2 for 3 with the home run and three stolen bases. Ryan Gusto suffered his first loss of the season, failing to get out of the fifth inning while allowing nine hits and five runs, all earned. Madej and Joey Mugavero worked 4 2/3 out of the FSW bullpen without allowing an earned run.
The loss drops the 9th ranked Bucs to 29-9 on the year, but more importantly, pushes them back to the pack in the conference standings where they are now 10-6, tied with both SCF and Hillsborough for the top spot in the league standings. The Manatees improve to 26-13 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
The same two teams will square off on Monday in Bradenton in a 6 PM first pitch before returning to City of Palms Park on Wednesday to wrap up the series, also in a 6 PM start.