BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Daniel Briggi (1-0): 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO
LP | Garrett Anderson (2-1): 2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (8-9-1) held a 4-2 lead over No. 19 Miami (11-6, 1-2 ACC) through two innings on Wednesday night under the lights of Swanson Stadium. It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs at the Eagles' home park. The lead would not last for long as Miami was able to score 13 unanswered runs to close the game out with the help of five FGCU errors that resulted in eight unearned runs. FGCU would ultimately go down 15-4 and have dropped the first two games of the season series. The finale will come a little over two weeks from now (Mar. 25) in Coral Gables.
Nick Deckert (Tallahassee, Fla./Tallahassee CC) would make the start on the mound for the Eagles and throw 36 pitches in the first inning, surrendering two runs and striking out two before being replaced by Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto HS) in the second. Anderson would strikeout the side in the second then give up a two-run homerun to tie the game in the third. A rocky fourth would result in two more runs which would eventually hand Anderson his first loss of the season. The sophomore would give up four hits over 2.1 innings while allowing four runs, two earned with five strikeouts. Five FGCU relievers would work through the rest of the game but three more earned runs, nine total, would cross the plate.
Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) would be the lone Eagle to record multiple hits, extending his hit-streak to 13 games, matching his career-high. He would also score one, drive in a run and steal his sixth bag of the season. Kyle Gilbert (Lake Mary, Fla./Seminole HS), Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) and Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) each added one hit.
"We made too many mistakes in the field today," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We had chance to get out of the third with a lead but the potential double play didn't go our way and a couple batters later it's a tie game. That's a good team over there and teams like that will make you pay for mistakes. We are still growing as a team and I like the direction we're headed. We just didn't put it all together tonight."
Miami led the game off with a walk then Deckert picked off the runner at first for the first out of the game. Deckert would then surrender a triple that would come around to score on a two-out single up the middle. The Hurricanes then manufactured a second with a hit-batsman and a double to right that drove in the runner from second.
Noll led off the bottom half with a single of the middle to extend his hitting streak. He would steal second and come in to score on a two-out double to deep left by Bottomley. Anderson held the Hurricanes at bay in the second then it was FGCU who jumped back on the scoreboard. With one out, Reardon singled up the middle. Brian Pruett (Sarasota, Fla./Coastal Carolina) was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second then it was Blake Berger (Jacksonville, Fla./Santa Fe College) who walked to load the bases. Noll singled to follow Berger and drove in Pruett. Reardon would also score on the play as a result of an error by the Miami shortstop. Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) grounded out to first but drove in a run for the fourth and final tally for FGCU
Miami picked up two runs on a homerun from David Thompson in the third, scored twice more to take a 6-4 lead in the fourth then dealt the knockout blow in the fifth. With one out, Christopher Barr walked and Carl Chester followed with a single to left. Ricky Eusebio then bounced a ball toward Noll at third but he would throw the ball away allowing both runners to come around and score. Zack Collins then singled and moved up to second on an error. George Iskenderian followed with a single to drive in Collins, setting the stage for Willie Abreu who hit a towering homerun to right to push Miami ahead 11-4.
The Hurricanes would tack on four more runs the rest of the way as three relievers would limit the Eagles to just one hit over the final six frames. Daniel Briggi would pick up the first win of his season for Miami after pitching four innings in relief.
NEXT UP
The first weekend road trip for the Eagles will take place Mar. 13-15 with a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to visit the Cornhuskers (7-5) for the first time in program history. Nebraska racked up 41 wins last season with 18 coming in conference play and would advance all the way to the Big Ten title game. Despite a loss in the conference championship game, Nebraska advanced to the NCAA Regional but were knocked out by Cal-State Fullerton.
DAVE TOLLETT
In 12 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 442-247-3 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.
