BOX SCORE (PDF)

LINCOLN, Neb. - The FGCU baseball team (8-10-1) erased an early 3-0 deficit and came back to tie the game 3-3 but would ultimately fall to Nebraska (10-6) on Friday night, 6-3, after a late inning rally by the home team.

Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) was the lone Eagle to pick up two hits for the Green and Blue who managed eight total. Six other FGCU players in the lineup would collect one hit. Rivera, Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) and Adam Eggnatz (Tampa, Fla./Middle Georgia College) each drove in a run. Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) went 1-4 at the plate, extending his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games.

"We battled today," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We need to avoid giving up big innings if we are going to give ourselves a chance to come back in games. Our offense is there but we still need to work on putting a complete game together. We've shown we can do that but give Nebraska credit, they came at us."

Mike Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla./Forrest Hill HS) took the hill, making his fifth start of the season and struggled in the first, surrendering three runs. By the end of the night the junior would toss 5.1 innings, give up 12 hits, six runs, walk three and strike out five batters. Three relievers would keep Nebraska at bay the rest of the way, without allowing a hit but the offense was unable to erase a second three-run deficit.

Nebraska led off the bottom of the first with a double to right and bunt single to put runners on first and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly to right would bring in the first run of the ball game then a one-out single put runners on first and third for a second time in the inning. A single followed, bringing in another run and making it 2-0. One more single brought in the third and final run of the frame before Murray settled in and worked out of the rest of the first.

In the top of the second, Bottomley led off with a double to center then advanced to third on a single by Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS). Eggnatz then lifted a fly ball to right allowing Bottomley to score on the sacrifice for the first run of the ball game for the Green and Blue.

The Eagles completed the comeback in the top of the fifth. Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) led off with a single through the left side. With one out, Spivey stole second to move into scoring position for Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) who walked bringing up Rivera who ripped a single through the right side, driving in Spivey for the first FGCU run. Bottomley then lifted a long fly ball to left that sacrificed home Reardon.

Nebraska would shut the door in the bottom of the sixth. A one-out double put a runner in scoring position for Boldt who singled in the infield to put runners on first and third. Headley then doubled, bringing in two runs to push the Huskers ahead 5-3. A double would follow to bring in the sixth and final run of the inning and provide the final score of 6-3. The FGCU bullpen would spell the damage from there. 

DAVE TOLLETT
In 12 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 442-248-3 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 visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.