WINTER HAVEN, FLA.- For the first time in history, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers are Suncoast Conference Champions. The Bucs made history on Wednesday, battling back from an early deficit to beat Polk State 8-5 in their final game of the regular season, winning their 40th game and locking up their first conference title in the process.
The Bucs came out swinging, scoring twice in the first on an RBI single from Tommy Joseph and a fielder's choice later in the inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
The lead didn't last long though as Polk State struck back for four in the bottom of the second, putting the Bucs in a 4-2 hole after two.
FSW scored a run on the bases for the second time in the game in the third, trading an out at second for a run at the plate to cut their deficit to 4-3.
A leadoff walk to Nathan Kinsch in the fifth got the Bucs going again and he later came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Drake Dobyanski to even the score at four.
Ryan Gusto kept the Bucs right there with another scoreless inning out of the bullpen in the bottom of the fifth and FSW rewarded their righthander with another run in the sixth, again of the manufactured variety, to give the Purple and Aqua their first lead since the first inning at 5-4.
The Bucs opened things up in the seventh as their first five hitters of the inning reached base, including RBI singles from Joseph and Warnner Rincones to stretch their lead to 7-4.
Polk got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, but FSW answered with a run of their own on a bases loaded walk in the eighth to once again make it a three run game at 8-5.
With a three run lead late, the Bucs went to Marc Davis in the eighth and he slammed the door on the Eagles, striking out six over the final two innings, including punching out the side in the ninth to start the celebration for FSW.
The Bucs played well in all three phases in the clincher, wrapping out 12 hits and striking out 15 on the mound, while playing a clean game on defense. Dobyanski led the Bucs with three hits and three runs scored at the top of the lineup while Joseph finished 2 for 4 with three RBI's in the middle. The Bucs bullpen was outstanding as Gusto went 5 1/3, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out eighth to earn the win and improve to 7-1 on the year. Davis earned his first save of the season, striking out six in two scoreless to close things out.
FSW closes the regular season 40-12 and with their first Suncoast Conference Championship with a 21-9 league record. Polk State ends the season 24-29 and a disappointing 11-19 in conference play.
The Bucs now turn their attention to the postseason where they will open their first FCSAA State Tournament since revitalizing the program, on Friday, May 10th, when they take on Santa Fe in a 4 PM first pitch in Lakeland.