BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Jordan Jess (1-0): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
LP | Mike Murray (1-2): 8.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
SV | Brian Glowicki (1): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (5-5-1) received a stellar effort from ace right-hander Mike Murray on Friday night but a seventh inning rally from Minnesota (1-7) provided all the runs needed to lock up the first victory of the season for the Golden Gophers. The two programs will return to Swanson Stadium for game two of the series at 2 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla./Forrest Hill HS) rolled through his first six innings of work, retiring 15-straight after giving up a hit with no outs in the second. Three hits and a walk in the seventh would doom the junior, however, as three runs would come across on a bases clearing single to right to provide all the scoring Minnesota would need. Murray would finish the evening with eight innings under his belt to go with four strikeouts. He will need to wait at least one more start to try and become just the fourth pitcher in FGCU baseball history to win 20 games in his career.

The Eagles would collect eight hits led by Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) who went 2-5 and Adam Eggnatz (Tampa, Fla./Middle Georgia College) who continued his hot start to the 2015 season, going 2-4 at the plate and pushing his average up to a team-best .333. Brian Pruett (Sarasota, Fla/Coastal Carolina) would provide the lone RBI for the Green and Blue in the eighth inning. FGCU would, however, leave 11 runners on base.

"We needed to be better on offense tonight," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We had plenty of opportunities to put runs on the board but couldn't find a way to push any across. Murray was great for the most part but we need to give him some run support. We are still a young club that's learning how to win games."

The first great chance to score for the Green and Blue came in the fifth when Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) doubled to lead off the frame then move up to third on a wild pitch. Eggnatz followed with a groundout and Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) reached with a hit by pitch. Noll then laid down a bunt trying to squeeze Spivey home but the Minnesota pitcher made a great play to glove the ball and flip to the catcher to catch Spivey before he crossed the plate. Minnesota would escape the threat from there.

In the top of the seventh, Matt Fiedler led off for Minnesota with a single to center off Murray. Toby Hanson then followed with a pop out for the first out but Michael Handel singled through the right side next to put runners on first and third with one out. Murray struck out the next batter for the second out but then surrendered his first free pass of the season to load the bases for Matt Halloran who lifted a diving fly ball to right. Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) moved under the ball and dove to make the play but came up just short, allowing the runners to circle the bags and give the Gophers a 3-0 advantage.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central) led off with an infield single. Eggnatz also reached on an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate. Reardon sacrificed both runners into scoring position but subsequent fly outs from Noll and Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) ended the threat.

FGCU scored its lone run of the ball game in the bottom of the eighth when Bottomley doubled to lead off then later scored on ground ball from Pruett who beat out a double-play ball. Noll would double in the ninth but that would be all the Eagles would manage as Minnesota was able to lock down the rest of the way to pick up their first win.

NEXT UP
The Eagles will make their first of two trips to Coral Gables to square off with Miami (6-3) on Mar. 4. The Hurricanes will then travel to Swanson Stadium on Mar. 10 for a 6 p.m. start. Miami finished the 2014 season with the No. 17 RPI in the nation. The Canes streaked to a 45-20 record in 2014 with a 24-6 record in the ACC before advancing to the NCAA Tournament where they fell in the regional.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 12 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 439-243-3 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.