BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Pat Leatherman (1-0): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
LP | Parker Hamilton (0-1): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
SV | Braxton Markle (1): 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (1-3) was not able to climb out an early hole against Central Michigan (3-1) on Sunday in the series finale, allowing the Chippewas to leave Swason Stadium with a 5-2 victory to secure the series. The Eagles now move on to a pair of split doubleheaders next weekend with Fordham and No. 40 Illinois.

FGCU sent freshman Parker Hamilton (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter HS) to the mound to make his Green and Blue debut on Sunday morning and he would work through 2.0 innings, giving up three hits and two runs while walking one and striking out one. The Eagles were never able to erase the early deficit which would result in Hamilton's first loss. Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carrol HS) worked 3.0 innings of relief and would allow one run while striking out four. Jack English (Delray Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman) handled the final four innings and at one point retired nine-straight CMU hitters before allowing a pair of unearned runs in the ninth.

Freshman second baseman Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) put together the best game of his young career at the plate, going 3-3 with a walk. He would also register a team-high six assists in the field. Reardon closed the weekend having gone 5-16 at the plate which measures out to a .313 batting average. His five hits were more than any other FGCU player opposite CMU.

"We never got going today," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We were down early and just never found a way to get all the way back. We had plenty of chances with runners in scoring position but in the end we just didn't get the job done."

The Chippewas jumped on the board in the first inning, beginning with back-to-back one-out singles followed by a two wild pitches that allowed a run to trot home and open up the scoring. Hamilton would strand the remaining runner with the first strikeout of his career and a fly out. CMU would, however, find their way home again in the second when a one-out walk followed by a double put two runners in scoring position. Ryan Heeke then flied out to right, sacrificing a run home to give the Chippewas a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, freshman Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS), who went 3-7 over the last two games, walked, bringing up Brian Pruett (Sarasota, Fla./Coastal Carolina) who reached when the first basemen mis-handled the incoming throw. Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Then with two outs Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) struck out but the third strike caromed away from the CMU catcher allowing Rivera to reach first and Spivey to come home.

CMU tacked on an insurance run in the fourth with a long homerun to left then the Eagles were held quiet until the fifth when Pruett led off with a double off the wall in left. Selesky sacrificed the runner to third then it was Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) sending a sacrifice fly to right, bringing in Pruett to cut the deficit to just 3-2.

English relieved Koerner to start the sixth and rolled through nine-straight Central Michigan batters but the FGCU offense was absent in return. In the top of the ninth, English chased down a bunt by Alex Borglin but threw the ball into foul territory down the right field line allowing Borglin to cruise into third. Logan Regnier then doubled down the line to bring in Borglin. Following a sacrifice bunt, Zach McKinstry sent a sacrifice fly to center to bring home the final run of the ball game for CMU.

Braxton Markle took the mound for CMU in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Reardon before picking up a pair of groundouts, the last resulting in a double play to end the game. The loss secured the first season-opening series loss for FGCU since 2012 when the Eagles dropped two of three at home to Bethune-Cookman.

NEXT UP
The Green and Blue will then welcome Fordham and Illinois for a pair of split doubleheaders Feb. 20 and 22. The Eagles will play Fordham at noon on the 20th and 11 a.m. on the 22nd. The Rams posted a 24-30 overall record last season and went 13-14 in the Atlantic 10. Illinois will square off with the Eagles at 6:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. on the 20th and 22nd, respectively. The Fighting Illini rolled to a 32-21 record in 2014 with a 17-7 mark in the B1G but would miss out on a trip to the NCAA Tournament. They are currently ranked No. 40 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, finished 2014 with the No. 56 RPI and swept the Green and Blue in a two-game set in Gainesville, Fla. last year.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 12 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 435-241-2 record as the only head coach in the program's history. He is a four-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four A-Sun Regular Season Championships. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets and has coached 35 All-Conference selections, 22 draft picks, 14 current minor leaguers, four A-Sun Pitchers of the Year, three All-Americans, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one MLB All-Star.

#WINGSUP
Fans are encouraged to download the brand-new Wings Up mobile app in conjunction with SuperFanU. The fully-customized loyalty-rewards platform allows fans to check in at each of FGCU's sporting events to earn points throughout the school year toward exclusive prizes that can't be offered anywhere else.

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.