BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Kyle Kubat (3-0): 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
LP | Devin Smeltzer (1-2): 4.1 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
LINCOLN, Neb. - The FGCU baseball team (8-11-1) was unable to rally against Nebraska (11-6) who took an early lead and ultimately held off the Eagles to claim an 8-2 victory. FGCU has now dropped each of the first two games of the series and the finale will take place tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. ET.
The Eagles would collect nine hits with five players managing multiple. Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) would see hits career-best 14-game hitting streak come to and end while freshman lefty Devin Smeltzer (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) took his second loss of the season on the mound. Smeltzer would give up 10 hits over 4.1 innings, allowing six earned runs and striking out four.
"We never got going today," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We fell behind early and just couldn't recover all the way. Tomorrow is another chance to play and another chance to get a win and get rolling."
Smeltzer would give up a single to lead off the bottom of the first and that runner would be sacrificed to second for the first out of the inning. A walk and a homerun in succession would put Nebraska ahead 2-0 early. Smeltzer would settle in and strikeout two batters to escape the first without further damage.
Boldt led off the bottom of the third with an infield single but Smeltzer managed to produce a double play with a 3-1 pitch to the next batter. Back-to-back singles, an error and a wild pitch would bring in another run however, pushing Nebraska ahead 4-0.
The Huskers would tack two more runs on the board in the fifth before the Eagles found their way onto the scoreboard. Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) led off the top of the sixth with a single to right. Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Adam Eggnatz (Tampa, Fla./Middle Georgia College) who reached on fielder's choice, driving in the first FGCU run. Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) followed by also reaching on a fielder's choice with resulted in the second out of the inning but also drove in Rivera to make it a 7-2 Nebraska lead.
The Huskers would add one more run in the sixth to complete the scoring. FGCU was unable to mount any further comeback and would fall to Nebraska for the second time in as many days.
NEXT UP
FGCU will return home to face defending MEAC Champs Bethune-Cookman (3-15, 3-3 MEAC) Mar. 20-22. The Wildcats went 27-32 last season with a 14-10 record in the MEAC. B-CU currently holds the lead in the all-time series with FGCU, 8-7, but dropped two of three to the Green and Blue last season at home.
Following a midweek tilt with USF (10-6-1), Mar. 24 the Eagles will head to Coral Gables to face Miami for a third time (Mar. 25) before kicking off Atlantic Sun play at North Florida (10-8) Mar. 27-29. FGCU took two of three from the Ospreys during the regular season in 2014 then eliminated them from the A-Sun Tournament in the first round. The Ospreys posted an overall record of 22-31 and played their way into the A-Sun Tournament with an 11-16 league record. FGCU holds the edge in the all-time series, 17-7.
DAVE TOLLETT
In 12 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 442-249-3 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.
