FSU Baseball: Busby’s Emergence Key to Success

For most of the season, offense has not been a problem for Florida State. The Seminoles have continually ranked in the top 5 of the ACC and in the top 50 nationally in areas like batting average and runs scored, but against rival Florida, runs have not come easy.

In three match-ups with the Gators this season, FSU has managed just a grand total of four runs. The Seminoles and Gators will begin a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional in Gainesville on Saturday with a trip to the College World Series on the line. To get back to Omaha for the first time since 2012, Florida State will need to put up runs and for that to happen, first baseman Dylan Busby will need to continue to swing a hot bat.

For most of the season, All-Americans Taylor Walls and John Sansone have been the constants at the top of the lineup. Freshman All-American catcher Cal Raleigh has also been consistent in the middle of the order while outfielder Jackson Lueck has not cooled off since taking over the everyday duties in left field midseason.

The emergence of Busby however, has made the FSU lineup much deeper. Busby was never having a bad season, but since the start of the ACC Tournament more than two weeks ago, the sophomore and Tallahassee Regional Most Outstanding Player has been the Seminoles’ toughest out.

Since the start of the ACC Tournament, Busby has hit .500, going 17-for-34 with 13 runs scored, 18 RBIs and six home runs. At the end of the regular season, Busby was hitting .299 and ranked second on the team in home runs. He’s now hitting .328 and leads FSU with 14 blasts while working his way up the FSU order.

Busby was hitting in the No. 9 spot in the order to close the regular season, but has since moved up to fifth. His emergence has not only provided added protection in the lineup for guys like Lueck and Raleigh, but his ability to get on base of late has led to more hittable pitches for players like Quincy Nieporte hitting behind him.

Since the start of the ACC Tournament and Busby’s emergence, the Seminoles have scored 74 runs in seven games. That 10.6 runs per game average is about three and a half runs higher than the 7.2 runs FSU was averaging to close the regular season.

Busby’s hot streak has Florida State fans optimistic as the Seminoles head into the Gainesville Super Regional to take on the No. 1 overall seed. The Seminoles have won seven of eight heading to Gainesville, but the Gators have won five straight against FSU, including a pair of drubbings in last year’s Super Regional.

Against Florida during the regular season, the Seminoles left 28 runners on base over three games. For FSU to finally get the better of its rivals, it will need contributions up and down the lineup against a potent Florida pitching staff that includes A.J. Puk, Logan Shore, Shaun Anderson and Dane Dunning.

Of late, it’s been Busby who has served as the straw that has stirred the drink for Florida State. His emergence has had a positive impact on the entire line and if that continues, FSU should at least have a fighting chance over the weekend.