BOX SCORE (PDF)
WP | Brady Anderson (1-0): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
LP | Chad Mayle (1-1): 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (7-8-1) rattled off seven unanswered runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings after falling behind Western Michigan (5-6) 1-0 in the third to pick up a 7-1 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Green and Blue would spray 12 hits around Swanson Stadium and have collected 23 total over the first two games of the series heading into Sunday's finale with the Broncos. First pitch is scheduled to take place at Noon tomorrow.

Josh Dye (Deland, Fla./Deland HS) made the third start of his career and lasted two innings, giving up the lone WMU run and striking out two. Brady Anderson (Arcardia, Fla./DeSoto HS) came on in relief and pitched brilliantly over 5.2 innings. He would surrender just four hits while striking out three and walking none en route to earning his first victory of the season. Mike LaGrange (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Pete College) and Christian Townsend (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside HS) would combine to record the final four outs of this one.

At the plate, Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) and Adam Eggnatz (Tampa, Fla./Middle Georgia College) each collected three hits while Eggnatz also drove in a run. The senior is now hitting an FGCU best .377 this season with 20 hits, five runs and nine RBI. Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS), Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) and Blake Berger (Jacksonville, Fla./Santa Fe College) all picked up two hits but it was Rivera who drove in three runs.

"We put it all together today," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We got great stuff on the mound from everyone who threw and the bats came alive for us. We are a tough team to beat when we put it all together like that. Now we turn our attention to getting a sweep. It isn't to sweep a team at this level and it's something we are going to need to be able to do in conference play if we want to be at the top."

Dye took the mound to start the third after both teams were held scoreless after the first two frames. Evan Nelson led off with a single through the right side that ended Dye's day in favor of Anderson who came on for his fifth relief appearance already this season. The Broncos would eventually work Nelson around the bases to score the first run of game but Anderson limited the damage to just one and turned things over to the FGCU lineup.

Rivera led off the bottom of the fourth by taking a pitch off the elbow and bringing up Bottomley who ripped one of his three hits through the left side to put two runners on for Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) who then walked to load the bases. Eggnatz came to the plate and bounced a ball to short that would retire Selesky at second on a fielder's choice but bring in the tying run. Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that brought Bottomley in from third for the second run of the inning, giving FGCU a 2-1 advantage.

In the fifth, Berger led off with a single to left center then moved up to second on a throwing error by the WMU catcher who was trying to pick off the Eagle catcher leaning too far off first. Noll would reach on an error by the third baseman on a ball that trickled into left allowing Berger to move up to third. A fly out would allow Noll to advance to second, putting two runners in scoring position for Rivera who singled down the left field line, driving in both runs and pushing the Eagles ahead 4-1.

The rally would continue in the bottom of the sixth when Eggnatz led things off with a bunt single then advanced to second when Reardon followed with a walk. A sacrifice bunt would put both runners in scoring position for Berger who singled through the right side, bringing in one run. Noll followed with a single of his own to drive in the sixth run of the afternoon for FGCU. With the bases loaded after a Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) walk, Rivera flew out to deep center to bring in the seventh and final run of the game for the Eagles.

Anderson rolled through the seventh and into the eighth before giving way to LaGrange who induced a groundout for the final out of the inning. Townsend then came on in the ninth and faced just four batters, giving up one hit and striking out one to finish the 7-1 victory for the Green and Blue.

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 (9-5) 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 (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 441-246-3 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.