FORT MYERS, FLA.- While Ryan Gusto has had a good year for the #8 Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers, they knew there was more in the tank for their sophomore righthander. The Bucs saw that come to fruition Monday night at City of Palms Park as they opened their three game series with Polk State as Gusto threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out a school record 16 as FSW breezed past the Eagles 5-0.
Gusto was sharp for the Bucs early on, striking out five Eagle hitters through the first two frames for FSW.
The Bucs took advantage of their ace's good work, taking a lead in the bottom of the second as Tommy Joseph doubled and then came around to score on a two out RBI single from Shamir Morales to give FSW a 1-0 advantage.
Gusto continued to rack up the strikeouts in the third, punching out the side for the second straight inning to run his game total to eight and keep the Bucs in front 1-0.
Mikey Burke showed off his arm from the outfield in the fifth, gunning down the potential tying run at the plate to end an Eagle threat and keep the FSW shutout intact at 1-0.
The Bucs got another clutch two out hit in the bottom of the fifth as Connor Bagnieski slapped a single to left to bring home a pair, stretching the FSW lead to 3-0 as the teams went to the sixth.
Gusto remained locked in in the sixth, striking out the side for the third time in the contest to push his total to 12 for the night.
He didn't waver as the game got deeper, punching out his fourth, fifth, and sixth straight hitters in a 1-2-3 seventh to send the game to stretch time with FSW in control, up 3-0.
The Bucs two out offensive magic continued in the seventh as Victor Florentino singled up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on an infield single from Mikey Burke to make it 4-0 FSW. After working the count full, Bagnieski then doubled off the right field wall to score Burke, pushing the Bucs lead to 5-0.
Gusto finished off his night by picking up his 16th strikeout in the eighth before giving way to Joey Mugavero to wrapped up the inning with a strikeout of his own to keep it a 5-0 game.
The Bucs couldn't capitalize on a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the inning, but it didn't matter as Mugavero ended the game fittingly with a strikeout to finish off the shutout for FSW in the ninth to give them the series opener 5-0 over the Eagles.
Each team had seven hits in the contest, but it was when those hits came that was the difference. FSW scored all five of their runs on two out hits while Polk State was unable to come through in those situations, leaving eight on in the game. Bagnieski led the FSW offense with two hits and three RBI's in the win while Victor Florentino was 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
Gusto was the story, going 7 1/3 scoreless innings, fanning a school record 16 on 112 pitches. He scattered six hits before giving way to Mugavero who threw 1 2/3 scoreless to close things out.
The Bucs improve to 27-7 on the year and 9-4 in Suncoast Conference play with the win while Polk State continues their roughest campaign in recent memory at 14-19 overall and 4-9 in league play.
The same two teams will hook up Wednesday night in Winter Haven with first pitch scheduled at 6 PM.