BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Michael Farley (2-0): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
LP | Garrett Anderson (2-2): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU baseball team (11-13-1) fell victim to a late inning rally by the Bulls of South Florida (17-8-1) on Tuesday evening, going down by a final score of 8-7 after a back-and-forth affair. Both teams sprayed 14 hits each across the Swanson Stadium grounds but the Eagles would strand 13 base runners in the loss.
Freshman Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) reached base five times on Tuesday, going 2-3 with three walks and three runs scored. Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) went 3-4 at the plate, two runs and three RBI out of the No. 3 spot and Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) hammered three doubles and drove in four runs.
Devin Smeltzer (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) tossed 6.0 innings and gave up 10 hits while allowing four runs and striking out six. He would be replaced by Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carrol HS) who worked 2.0 innings in relief and struck out two while giving up two runs but only one earned. Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto HS) came on in the ninth to close this one out but would surrender two runs on three hits to take the loss.
"We're a better team now than we were two weeks ago," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We are swinging the bats better but out pitching needs to improve. Hopefully we can get a good performance and win at Miami tomorrow as we get ready to head into conference play."
Reardon led off the bottom of the first with a single to center and Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) followed with a single through the right side, bringing up Noll who ripped a third-straight single, driving in two runs to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Noll would reach second but advanced no further as USF limited the damage.
USF led off the top of the second with a long home run to right cutting the FGCU lead down to 2-1. Levi Borders would come to the plate with a runner on in the third and double down the right field line to tie the game for the Bulls, 2-2. FGCU would leave the bases loaded in the bottom half.
In the top of the fourth, USF continued to tack on runs this time in the form of another home run to right to make it 3-2. In the bottom half of the fourth it was Zach Orchard (Cambridge, Ontario/Jacob Hespeler SS) who doubled to deep left with one out. Reardon followed with a single to left, putting runners on first and third for Selesky against a new pitcher. The Estero native would strike out, bringing Noll to the plate who singled and drove in two more runs to make it 4-3. Rivera followed with a double, driving in Noll and pushing the Green and Blue up 5-3.
A Noll single and Rivera double resulted in the sixth FGCU run in the bottom of the sixth but USF tacked on three runs to tie the score back up at 6-6 over the seventh and eighth innings. In the bottom half, Reardon walked with one out and would be sacrificed to second but Selesky would reach on the play. Noll would be hit by a pitch to load the bases once again for the Green and Blue and Rivera would deliver. He bounced into a fielder's choice but Reardon scored from third to put the Eagles back on top heading into the ninth.
The Bulls would rally in the ninth a runner on and two outs to tie the game and later take the lead. Overall USF would collect three hits and score two runs off Garrett Anderson in the ninth to take an 8-7 lead and turn it over to the FGCU lineup. The Eagles would load the bases but a two-out strikeout would allow the Bulls to escape with the victory and the split of the season series.
The Eagles will travel to Miami tomorrow for the third and final tilt this season with the Hurricanes (18-7, 6-3 ACC). First pitch from Coral Gables is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
NEXT UP
The Ealges will kick off Atlantic Sun play at North Florida (14-8) 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 445-251-3 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.
