BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Garrett Anderson (2-0): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
LP | Pat Haynes (1-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (6-8-1) experienced as a bizarre a finish as there can be on Friday night when it walked off against Western Michigan (5-5) on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on third while the Broncos were attempting to issue an intentional walk. The Eagles would snap a four-game losing streak with the 4-3 victory and will be back at Swanson Stadium against WMU tomorrow at 2 p.m.

The Eagles came to bat in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) would take a pitch off the elbow to get things started. Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) then legged out a bunt single and both runners would be sacrificed into scoring position by Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS). Western Michigan then opted to intentionally walk Adam Eggnatz (Tampa, Fla./Middle Georgia College) but the third pitch Pat Haynes would deliver soared past the WMU catcher allowing Bottomley to score the winning run from third.

Mike Murray (West Palm Beach, Fla./Forrest Hill HS) made his fourth start of the season and was in search of his 20th career victory for the second week in a row but it wasn't to be. The junior would strike out 10 Broncos over 7.0 innings while allowing seven hits and three runs. His next start will likely come on the road at Nebraska next Friday (Mar. 13). Garrett Anderson (Aracadia, Fla./DeSoto HS) would pick up his second win of the season in relief after tossing 2.0 scoreless without giving up a hit and striking out two.

"It was certainly a strange way to end the game," head coach Dave Tollett said. "I've never seen a game end like that but we will take it. Mike was great for us as usual and Garrett kept us in it at the end and gave us a chance to win the game at the end. We executed in the ninth and that's all you can ask for."

Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS), Bottomley, Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) and Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) all collected two hits tonight while Selesky also drove in a pair of runs. Brian Pruett (Sarasota, Fla./Coastal Carolina) would collect the other RBI as the Eagles totaled 11 hits, giving them 24 over their last two games.

Neither team found its way onto the scoreboard until the top of the third when the Broncos turned a leadoff double into the first run of the ballgame after a fly out and ground out advanced the runner around the bases for the score. Murray would settle in and strike out the last batter of the inning to halt the rally. With two outs in the fourth, Jared Kujawa took a 2-2 offering from Murray deep over the right field wall for a homerun to push Western Michigan ahead 2-0.

The Eagles would get one back in the bottom half of the fourth. Selesky started the rally with a single to right then with one out it was Pruett lifting a double to left on a hit-and-run play that allowed Selesky to circle the bases and score the first run of the night for FGCU. Then in the fifth, with one out and one on, Eggnatz singled to left, putting runners on first and second for Selesky who singled to center, driving in Spivey to tie the game.

Western Michigan would regain its lead in the top of the fifth off Murray. A leadoff single, followed by a stolen base and a double plated the go-ahead score. The FGCU ace would retire the next two batters in order to keep the deficit at 3-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rivera led off with a single through the left side on a 2-2 pitch then moved up to second a wild pitch. Spivey would sacrifice Rivera to third who would then be lifted for pinch runner, Matt Reardon. Eggnatz would be intentionally walked to put runners on first and third with one out for Selesky who laid down a bunt on a squeeze play, scoring Reardon from third on the sacrifice. That would be all the Eagles would get in the seventh however.

The score would hold until the ninth when the Eagles manufactured a run in unlikely fashion to pick up their sixth victory of the season and fourth-straight in series history against Western Michigan. First pitch for tomorrow is schedule for 2 p.m. and the Broncos will send Chad Mayle to the mound. FGCU's started is still to be determined.  

DEVIN SMELTZER
Devin Smeltzer (Voorhees, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) will make his fourth start on Sunday and will be in search of his first victory after coming up one out short opposite Illinois and taking the first loss of his career last Sunday against Minnesota. He made his third start of the season and worked through 4.0 innings against the Gophers, striking out one while giving up three runs. The lefty worked through 6.1 innings opposite Illinois and gave up seven hits which resulted in three runs but only two earned while striking out one against two walks.

NEXT UP
FGCU will remain home on Tuesday to host nationally ranked No. 11 Miami (9-4) at Swanson Stadium for the first time in program history. The Eagles outhit Miami last Wednesday but ultimately fell 7-3. First pitch for the Battle of the Birds on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

The first weekend road trip for the Eagles will take place Mar. 13-15 with a trip to Lincoln, Nebraska to visit the Cornhuskers (6-4) 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 440-246-3 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.