McCusker’s Extra-Inning Blast Sinks Hammerheads 3-0

JUPITER, Fla. (July 7, 2023) – After nine innings of scoreless baseball, Mussels’ outfielder Carson McCusker obliterated a three-run homer to center field to seal a 3-0 Fort Myers win over the Jupiter Hammerheads Friday.

After both pitching staffs traded zeroes for nine innings, Dylan Neuse laid down a bunt to start the tenth. Jupiter first baseman Torin Montgomery fired to third base but couldn’t get pinch runner Kamron Willman. Neuse alertly took second on the play. After Danny De Andrade popped out, McCusker took a breaking ball and launched it 405 feet to center. The game-winning homer left the bat at 104.3 mph.

Jackson Hicks (2-1) worked a perfect bottom of the tenth to seal the Mussels’ fifth shutout of the season. Hicks fanned three in relief after Danny Moreno worked two scoreless before him.

The shutout effort was led by starting pitcher Jack Noble, who became just the third Fort Myers pitcher to complete six innings this season. Noble allowed only two hits and two walks over six innings, striking out six. He needed just 80 pitches to turn in a quality start.

The Mussels will go for their first series win since May 14 at 6 p.m. on Saturday. RHP Miguelangel Boadas (0-2, 6.91) will start for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Josh White (1-0, 3.24) of the Hammerheads. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.